Unknown - Koran - Persia - MidC16th - 1560

A folio from a Quran dating back to midC16th containing the entirety of chapter 92, Al-Layl (The Night) together with the illuminated header of chapter 93, Ad-Duha (The Morning). The entirety of that verse in on the reverse of this folio. together with that of Chapter 94, Ash-Shurh (Uplifting the Heart). This makes it a highly unusual and treasured manuscript. Chapters 92 (Al-Lail), 93 (Ad-Duha), and 94 (Ash-Sharh) form a deeply interconnected trilogy of revelation in the early Meccan period. Chapter 92 provides the theoretical framework (the two choices in life), while chapters 93 and 94 provide the practical, emotional application of those choices for the Prophet Muhammad.

The central theme of Chapter 92 highlights the significance of human free will and contrasts the opposing paths of moral choices and their ultimate consequences. The chapter is structured into three main parts. 1/. The Cosmic Oath (Verses 1-4): Allah swears by the night, the day, and the creation of male and female. This juxtaposition of opposites (light and dark, male and female) serves as a metaphor for the contrasting moral paths available to humanity and their divergent outcomes. 2/. The Two Paths (Verses 5-11): The Surah outlines two distinct ways of living:The Path of Ease (The Generous): For the person who gives to others, is conscious of God, and believes in the ultimate reward (Paradise), Allah makes the path to righteousness and bliss easy.The Path of Hardship (The Miserly): For the one who hoards wealth, thinks they are self-sufficient, and denies ultimate goodness, the path to evil and distress is made easy. 3/. The Promise of Divine Guidance (Verses 12-21): The chapter reassures believers that guidance and both the worldly and spiritual realms belong to the Creator. It issues a warning of the blazing fire for the arrogant, while celebrating the pious who give their wealth purely to seek the pleasure of Allah, achieving inner peace and ultimate satisfaction.

The Surah emphasizes that a person's destiny is a direct result of their choices and efforts. Good deeds inherently lead to spiritual ease, while selfishness leads to hardship. It underscores that giving wealth purifies the soul rather than diminishing it. True charity is done sincerely to seek the pleasure of Allah, independent of seeking worldly recognition or returning a favor

The folio is in 'nashki' in a fine hand with the scripture beautifully spaced and framed. Gold 'aya' mark the verses. There is a colourful floral 'juz' marginal on the left of the folio marking the 10th Juz of the Chapter. Diacritical marking in red assist the reader during prayer. There is a relatively simple frame surround in red and gold markings, with an outer blue frame line.

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. This is a Tax collected on behalf of your Government and is not an additional delivery fee charged by us.