162 - Middle Ages – Arabia

Middle Ages – Arabia Four pages (2 leaves) from a large-format Quran (Mushaf). – 15 lines. Arabic, manuscript on paper. Probably Mamluk Egypt or Syria, alternatively Iran or Central Asia, 1300–1450. Decoration: The verses are separated by gold rosettes with red dots and green or blue centers. The margins feature blue-and-gold palmette motifs with fine blue lines, which presumably mark verse numbers or sections. Two sheets also feature round marginal medallions with a blue double ring, a gold field, and a red beaded border, likely markers for larger sections. - Regarding paleography: The script is a bold, regular book script of the Naskh family with elements reminiscent of Muhaqqaq/Rayan. Characteristic features include rounded letter forms, long straight alifs and lams, and widely extended terminal forms of nun, ya, and ra. The text is fully vocalized in black ink. No color coding for hamza or vowels is discernible. The handwriting is even and professional. The dating to the 14th to 15th century is based on the script style, the paper, the decoration featuring gold rosettes and blue-and-gold marginal marks, as well as the colophons. Regarding the content: The four leaves form two consecutive pairs from two widely separated sections of the Quran. Regarding the content: Sura 6 (al-An’am, “The Cattle”), approximately 6:145–158/159: The text begins with the emergency exception regarding forbidden foods, in which God is forgiving and merciful. This is followed by the dietary regulations for the Jews (animals with claws, certain fats) as retribution for their disobedience. The deniers, who justify their idolatry with God’s will, are rebuked for following nothing but conjecture. Next come the ethical commandments: do not associate anything with God, honor your parents, do not kill children out of poverty, avoid immorality, do not kill unjustly, protect the property of orphans, keep measures and weights fair, and speak justly. This is followed by a reference to the straight path, the revelation to Moses, and the blessed Book. The passage threatens the deniers with the Day of Signs, when faith will be of no avail. The refrain “shian” (“in factions”) continues. Sura 21 (al-Anbiya, “The Prophets”), approximately 21:3–31: The unbelievers regard the Prophet as a mere human, a sorcerer, or a poet, and demand a sign. The text refers to earlier messengers, who were also human, and to destroyed cities. Heaven and earth were not created as a game; the truth shatters falsehood. God is One; the angels praise Him tirelessly; and other gods would have corrupted the world. The claim of a son is rejected. The signs of creation range from the separation of heaven and earth, to water as the source of life, to the mountains and paths. The exclamation “wa-jaalna s-sama” leads to 21:32. Both passages are linked by the oneness of God and the rejection of idolatry. — Partially slightly discolored and stained, with minor defects along the margins, one page with a somewhat longer tear; otherwise, a well-preserved Arabic manuscript. Medieval - Arabia - Four pages (2 ff.) from a large-format Qur’an (mushaf). 15 lines. Arabic, manuscript on paper. Probably Mamluk Egypt or Syria, alternatively Iran or Central Asia, 1300–1450. Decoration: The verses are separated by gold rosettes with red dots and green or blue centers. In the margins are blue-and-gold palmette marks with fine blue lines, which presumably indicate verse counts or sections. Two leaves also feature round marginal medallions with a double blue ring, a gold field, and a red beaded border, likely marking larger divisions of the text. Paleography: The script is a bold, regular book hand of the naskh family, with elements reminiscent of muhaqqaq/rayhan. Characteristic features include rounded letter bodies, long straight alifs and lams, and widely extended final forms of nun, ya, and ra. The text is fully vocalized in black ink. No color coding for hamza or vowels is discernible. The ductus is even and professional. The dating to the 14th–15th century is based on the letterforms, the paper, the decoration with gold rosettes and blue-and-gold marginal marks, and the catchwords. Content: The four leaves form two consecutive pairs from two widely separated parts of the Qur’an. Sura 6 (al-An’am, “The Cattle”), approx. 6:145–158/159: The text opens with an exception for cases of necessity regarding forbidden foods, for which God is forgiving and merciful. It continues with the dietary rules for the Jews (animals with claws, certain fats) as a consequence of their rebelliousness. The deniers, who justify their idolatry by claiming it is God’s will, are told that they follow only conjecture. Then come the ethical commandments: do not associate anything with God, honor one’s parents, do not kill children out of poverty, avoid indecency, do not kill unlawfully, protect the property of orphans, give jus