Unknown - Quran - India (Bihar) - 1425

A beautifully preserved illuminated manuscript miniature folio from a Qur'an originating in the state of Bihar, India, circa 1425.

The folio contains scripture from Surah Sad (38:14-22), ending mid-verse 22 ("...and guide us to the right path"). It covers the story of Prophet Dawud (David), including the verses about litigants entering the prayer chamber. The main lessons from these verses are: patience - the Prophet is told to endure opposition as earlier prophets did; Dawud's status as a prophet-king, called awwab (constantly returning to God); wisdom and judgement t gather with decisive speech - God's gift to Dawud; and prophetic continuity, tying Dawud to the Quranic theme of one divine message.

It contains a fine illuminated Juz in the right margin marking the 15th verse of the chapter The aya (verse markings) are simple, in gold with 6 radials, and diacritical advisory marks in red provide devotional guidance to the reader. The whole is framed simply in red and blue lines.

This prosperous state, lying south of Nepal close bordering the Ganges river, became Muslim in the 12th century originally under the Bengal Governors. The Muslim calligraphers developed a distinctive style of script called Bihari (after the State), characterised by wide, heavy and extended horizontal lines, and thin verticals.

This folio is in usually good condition with the scripture untouched by damp and the marginal juz, and gold 'aya' (roundels) all being in a good state.

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