Unknown - Quran - Chinese - 1760

A stunning, Museum quality, Quranic folio from an 18th Century Chinese Qur'an (circa 1760), the likes of which can be found in the Smithsonian Institute. The translation is, 'As has been revealed to you from the Book, and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer". This is a partial translation of Surah Al-'Ankabut (The Spider) 29:45, which instructs the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to recite the revealed Quran and establish prayer. The full verse highlights that prayer prevents immoral, shameful, and unjust behavior, and that the remembrance of Allah is the greatest act.

The Chinese Quran are unusual in that they were often produced as bound stand alone chapters. This folio comes from one such.

It is written in elegant Muhaqqaq script, characterised by bold left leaning extended upstrokes of the pen, well-spaced ligatures, and shallow and sweeping horizontal sublinear flourishes. It is 'meticulously produced' as the name implies. During the caliphate of al Ma'mun (813-833) it became the preferred style of the Warraqun (professional scribes) to enable relatively easy reproduction. It also suggests the brush strokes associated with Chinese calligraphy, and is often referred to as sini (Chinese) Arabic.

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