Unknown - Qur'an manuscript leaf - 1580

A single illuminated manuscript folio page from a 16th Century Safaivid Qur'an with an complex and decorative illuminated marginal. The folio contains verses 56-59 of chapter 24, An-Nur (The Light), which cover general commands for believers regarding worship and obedience, a warning to disbelievers, and specific social etiquette laws concerning privacy within the home. Specifically:

v.56 contains a direct command to believers to adhere to fundamental religious practices to receive God's mercy; establish a prayer habit, give to charity and obery the messenger.

V.57 warns those who disbelieve that they cannot escape Allah's judgment on Earth. It emphasizes that their final abode in the Hereafter will be the Fire of Hell, which is described as an evil and terrible destination.

V.58 introduces guidelines for privacy within the home, emphasizing that everyone in the household, including children and those who are under one's care, should seek permission before entering private areas at certain times. It highlights three specific times when this is particularly important, as individuals may be in a state of undress or seeking solitude: Before the Morning Prayer (Fajr). During the midday rest. After the Night Prayer (Isha).

V59. further clarifies that the etiquette of seeking permission applies universally once individuals, including children, reach the age of maturity.

There are 14 lines of script in naskh black ink. Gold aya mark the individual verses. The illuminated marginal is an excellent example of Tezhip (Islamic illumination) often using gold and lapis lazuli pigments as seen in the prominent blue and gold motifs here. Tezhip elevates the Islamic calligraphy.

This is a quality folio in very good condition for its age.

Please note that shipping costs are not solely the cost of the postal delivery service itself. Included within the shipping price is the work undertaken to prepare the article, for photography, for uploading to Catawiki, for preparation and packaging the article securely and for transporting the article to the postal delivery agent for processing. 



Also, please consider when bidding on this lot that this artwork is shipped from the UK. Import duties will now have to be paid by the recipient to the Postal Service when the parcel arrives in your country. This will likely vary between 5% and 20% of the sale price depending on your country's Import Rate, so please check this if you are concerned. This is a Tax collected on behalf of your Government and is not an additional fee charged by us.