Bifolio from a Qurʾan Manuscript

CultureNorth Africa or Central Islamic Lands
Titles
  • Bifolio from a Qurʾan Manuscript
Datelate 8th–early 9th century
MediumInk, opaque watercolor, and gold on parchment
DimensionsEach Leaf: 10 3/4 × 14 1/4 in. (27.3 × 36.2 cm)
Open: 10 3/4 × 28 1/2 in. (27.3 × 72.4 cm)
Credit LineGift of Hossein Afshar
Object number2017.430
Not on view

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Object Type
Provenance[Oliver Hoare, Ltd., London]; Hossein Afshar Collection since c. 1990.
Exhibition HistoryBestowing Beauty: Masterpieces from Persian Lands. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, November 19, 2017 — February 11, 2018.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
The Qur’anic texts are as follows:
Side 1: Sura 30 al-Rum, verse 38, word 2—verse 43, word 3
Side 2: Sura 30 al-Rum, verse 43, word 4—verse 48, word 26
Side 3: Sura 30 al-Rum, verse 48, word 27—verse 55, word 12
Side 4: Sura 30 al-Rum, verse 56, word 1—verse 60, word 10 and Sura 31 Luqman, heading, bismillah, and verse 1, word 1—verse 4, word 3
Please see below for full translations (Fig. 1) and note that this example is from a Qur’an manuscript constructed exclusively of gatherings of four bifolios each (quaternion), unlike most other early copies of the Qurʾan, whose quires were assembled from ten folios made up of a mixture of bifolios and single folios.

Side 1: Sura 30 al-Rum, verse 38, word 2—verse 43, word 3
…what is due to the kindred, the needy, the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek the Countenance, of Allah, and it is they who will prosper. That which ye lay out for increase through the property of (other) people, will have no increase with Allah: but that which ye lay out for charity, seeking the Countenance of Allah, (will increase): it is these who will get a recompense multiplied. It is Allah who has created you: further, He has provided for your sustenance; then He will cause you to die; and again He will give you life. Are there any of your (false) “Partners” who can do any of these things? Glory to Him! and high is He above the partners they attribute (to him)! Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed) that the hands of men have earned, that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back (from Evil). Say: “Travel through the earth and see what was the end of those before (you): Most of them worshipped others besides Allah.” But set thou thy face to the right Religion…

Side 2: Sura 30 al-Rum, verse 43, word 4—verse 48, word 26
…before there come from Allah the Day which there is no chance of averting: on that Day shall men be divided (in two). Those who reject Faith will suffer from that rejection: and those who work with righteousness will spread their couch (of repose) for themselves (in heaven): That He may reward those who have believed and work righteous deeds, out of his Bounty. For He loves not those who reject Faith. Among his Signs is this, that He sends the Winds, as heralds of Glad Tidings, giving you a taste of His (Grace and) Mercy,--that the ships may sail (majestically) by His Command and that ye may seek of His Bounty: in order that ye may be grateful. We did indeed send, before thee, messengers to their (respective) peoples, and they came to them with Clear Signs: then, to those who transgressed, We meted out Retribution: and it was due from Us to aid those who believed. It is Allah Who sends the Winds, and they raise the Clouds: then does he spread them in the sky as He wills, and break them into fragments, until thou seest rain-drops issue from the midst thereof: then when He has made them reach such of his servants as He wills behold…

Side 3: Sura 30 al-Rum, verse 48, word 27—verse 55, word 12
…they do rejoice!-Even though, before they received (the rain) - just before this - they were dumb with despair! Then contemplate (O man!) the memorials of Allah's Mercy!- how He gives life to the earth after its death: verily the same will give life to the men who are dead: for He has power over all things. And if We (but) send a Wind from which they see (their tilth) turn yellow,- behold, they become, thereafter, Ungrateful (Unbelievers)! So verily thou canst not make the dead to hear, nor canst thou make the deaf to hear the call, when they show their backs and turn away. Nor canst thou lead back the blind from their straying: only those wilt thou make to hear, who believe in Our signs and submit (their wills in Islam). It is Allah Who created you in a state of (helpless) weakness, then gave (you) strength after weakness, then, after strength, gave (you weakness and a hoary head: He creates as He wills, and it is He Who has all knowledge and power. On the Day that the Hour (of Reckoning) will be established, the transgressors will swear that they tarried not but an hour: thus were they used to being deluded!

Side 4: Sura 30 al-Rum, verse 56, word 1—verse 60, word 10 and Sura 31 Luqman, heading, bismillah, and verse 1, word 1—verse 4, word 3
But those endued with knowledge and faith will say: "Indeed ye did tarry, within Allah's Decree, to the Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection: but ye - ye were not aware!" So on that Day no excuse of theirs will avail the transgressors, nor will they be invited (then) to seek grace (by repentance). verily We have propounded for men, in this Qur'an every kind of Parable: But if thou bring to them any Sign, the Unbelievers are sure to say, "Ye do nothing but talk vanities." Thus does Allah seal up the hearts of those who understand not. So patiently persevere: for verily the promise of Allah is true: nor let those shake thy firmness, who have (themselves) no certainty of faith.
Sura Luqman: In the name of God the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Alif. Lam. Mim. These are Verses of the Wise Book,- A Guide and a Mercy to the Doers of Good,- Those who establish regular Prayer…

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