Unknown - Qur'an - Ottoman - 1700

An illuminated Quranic manuscript leaf most likely produced in the Ottoman, dating back to AD1700. The scripture is from Surah 4, An-Nisa (Women), v.69-75. It is written in bold black naskh.

The verses of this manuscript establish a profound connection between absolute obedience to God and social responsibility. They offer a comforting promise of the ultimate spiritual reward for the faithful, while issuing a powerful moral call to defend and rescue the oppressed. These verses in the context of 'women's rights', extend the same protective ethos of just inheritance, dowry rights, to widowed and vulnerable women, while also reinforcing the surah;s recurring emphasis on communal responsibility and solidarity, called here to readiness and mutual support in defending the weak, of whom women were a central concern in the C17th Islamic context.

The leaf consists of three headings in bold Muhaqqaq script and two blocks of scripture each of 6 lines in Muhaqqaq, which are flanked with wonderful elaborate gold floral arabesque columns. The first header is a beautifully illuminated border tacting as both a header and decoration. The other two are pain large Muhaqqaq script. There are simple but very decorative aya marking the verses and diacritical (devotional marks) in red guiding the reader. Each of the passages of scripture is framed with arabesque gold columns, while the whole is framed with a more complex series of five (5) frame lines consiting of black, gold, red and finally a dark blue line. Decorative marginal Juz sits in the right margins defining the 70th and 75th verses respecively.

The condition is very good for its age.

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