Unknown - Quran - India (Bihar) - 1425

An manuscript folio from a Koran originating in the state of Bihar, India, circa 1425. It contains 11 lines of bihari script in black ink, diacritical marking in red offering readers guidance. Multiple aya separate the verses of scripture.

The scripture is from Chapter 18, Verses 92–95, Surah Al-Kahf, which tells the story of Dhul-Qarnayn, a righteous ruler to whom Allah gave great power and authority. These verses describe his journey to a place between two mountains and his interaction with a people threatened by Gog and Magog (Ya'juj and Ma'juj), detailing his encounter with a community and their plea for protection. Key themes include Dhul-Qarnayn's just leadership, his reliance on Allah, and his action to build a strong barrier against the destructive forces of Gog and Magog.

The prosperous state of Bihar, lying south of Nepal close bordering the Ganges river, became Muslim in the 12th century originally under the Bengal Governors. The Muslim calligraphers developed a distinctive style of script called Bihari (after the State), characterised by wide, heavy and extended horizontal lines, and thin verticals. This folio is in very condition with little in the way of damp staining or smudging. The page is beautifully clear with little smudging. Decorative 'aya' in gold mark the verses. The whole is framed simply in red and blue lines.

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