Unknown - Quran - India (Bihar) - 1425

An illuminated manuscript folio from a Qur'an originating in the state of Bihar, India, circa 1425. It contains a wonderful illuminated medallion in the left margin which has retained a fantastic colour and detail after all these years. 11 lines of bihari script, diacritics in red. Multiple aya separate the verses of scripture. Written in gold is the scripture "Why should I not worship the One who has originated me".

The script is from verses 18-22 of Chapter 36 Surah Ya-Sin, which describe the reaction of a disbelieving city to the messengers sent to them, the warning given by the people, and the faithful response of a believer who comes to support the messengers. release them graciously or by ransom until war ends, all as a test from Allah, assuring martyrs' deeds are never lost. These verses illustrate the conflict between truth and falsehood. The disbelievers threaten violence, while the believer tries to reason with them based on sincerity and the reality of creation. The following verses (not in this range) describe how the man was killed by his people and subsequently entered Paradise.

This prosperous state, 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 good condition with little in the way of damp staining or smudging. The page is beautifully clear with little staining. All references to God are in gold and decorative 'aya' in gold mark the verses. The whole is framed simply in red and blue lines.

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