Unknown - Qur'an - Bihar India - 1425

A fine miniature illuminated bi-folio from a Sultanate period Quran originating in the state of Bihar, India, circa 1425. It is in Arabic manuscript written in the characteristic script of Bihari, a unique cursive script used for Indian Qur'ans between the late C14-16th, distinguished by wide extended horizontal strokes and thin delicate verticals. the name of Allah is picked out in gold throughout.

The folio contains scripture from the concluding verses of chapter 31, Luqman, warning against worldly deception and enumerating the five things known only to God, followed by the illuminated basal heading introducing chapter 32, Sarah Al-Sajdah (The Prostration), whose opening verses assert the divine revelation of God's sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. A large gilded and polychrome marginal medallion marks the 'ruck' (chapter) division.

For the faithful, these passages carry profound weight: Surah Al-Sajdah is traditionally recited at dawn on Fridays, its verses on resurrection and divine mercy being essential to Islamic devotional practice.

There is some fading to the illuminations caused by water damage, hence being labelled as 'fair' condition.

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 do 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.