Unknown - Qur'an - Bihar India - 1425

A miniature illuminated bi-folio from a Quran originating in the state of Bihar, India, circa 1425.

The folio contains scripture from chapter 23, Al-Mu'minun (The Believers) v.27-35, which sits at the heart of Quranic flood narrative, not as a spectacle but as covenant. God does not merely save Noah; He watches over him with His own eyes (bi-a'yunina), a tender image of divine intimacy amid catastrophe. The passage moves from salvation to ingratitude with striking speed: no sooner are new nations raised than they reject their messenger, asking God why would send a man rather than an angel? It reflects human stubbornness, recognising that divine mercy and stubbornness recur across the ages.

It is written in a Arabic naskh script, with black ink and red diactritical markings to guide the devotee through prayer. In this case there are 17 lines of fine script with gold 'aya' marking the verses and several 'Allah' in gold thuluth font. The folio has a single decorative marginal illuminating the text marking the 35th verse.

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