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Panel of Illumination, Qur'anic verses

AUTHOR/CREATOR
Calligrapher: unknown

CREATED/PUBLISHED
9th century

NOTES
Dimensions of Panel: 14.5 (w) x 7.3 (h) cm

Dimensions of Written Surface: 14.5 (w) x 8.6 (h) cm

Script: Kufi

This panel of illumination marks the beginning of the 20th part (juz') of the Qur'an at verse 56 of the 27th chapter entitled Surat al-Naml (The Ants). Verses 56-60 of this surah appear on this folio's verso (1-84-154.37a V) and another fragment from the same Qur'an in the collections of the Library of Congress (1-84-154.37b R & V).

On that fragment the text continues with verses 57-60. Together, these two folios form the beginning of the 20th part (juz') of the Qur'an, demarcated by a panel of illumination on the recto of this folio (1-84-154.37a R).

Surat al-Naml describes the wonders of the spiritual world. The stories of a number of prophets, such as Moses, Solomon, Salih, and Lut (Lot), are offered in order to distinguish true from false worship, and highlight the miracles of God's grace and revelation. In the story of Lot, those who are lustful, including Lot's wife, will suffer God's punishment:

But We saved him (Lot) and his family, / Except his wife: her We destined to be among those who lagged behind. (27:57)

This panel of illumination follows a standard type found in horizontal Qur'ans made of parchment during the 9th century (Déroche 1992: 130, cat. no. 73). The panel is divided into three registers along the horizontal. The outer register includes interlacing vines decorated with dots, the middle register consists of square and rectangular panels striated with gold lines, and the innermost panel is speckled with a field of diagonal lines composed of small gold and blue dots. A gold decorative finial projects into the left margin as a visual clue for the beginning of the juz'.

SUBJECT
Islamic calligraphy
Islamic manuscripts
Arabic calligraphy
Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
Qur'anic verses
Arabic script calligraphy
Kufi

MEDIUM
20.5 (w) x 14.2 (h) cm

CALL NUMBER
1-84-154.37a

REPOSITORY
Library of Congress, African and Middle Eastern Division, Washington, D.C. 20540

DIGITAL ID
ascs 083
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.amed/ascs.083

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