Qur'anic verses

Qur'an verses in Muhaqqaq script from Iraq or Mamluk era Egypt. Dimensions of Written Surface: 17 (w) x 27.3 (h) cm Say: "Come, I will rehearse what God has really prohibited you from:" / Join not anything as equal with Him; / Be good to your parents; kill not your children / On a plea of want [...] (6:151) Say: "With God is the argument that reaches home: / If it had been His Will, he would have guided you all." (6:149) The text is calligraphed in clear muhaqqaq script at five lines per page, bound by a delicate frame consisting of several lines executed in gold and black ink. Muhaqqaq undoubtedly was the favorite cursive script of calligraphers who copied Qur'ans during the 14th-15th centuries (Lings and Safadi 1976, 50). The script and text layout are typical of Qur'ans of this period executed in Iraq and Mamluk Egypt (James 1992a, cat. nos. 24, 34, and 37; and James 1988). The verse markers consist of seven-petalled gold rosettes decorated with red and blue dots. One of the markers even breaks out of the text frame at the top left corner. In the upper left corner appears a gold roundel marking a tenth verse ('ashar) as well. The paper is white and quite thin, causing the text on the folio's verso to show through. The verso continues verses 148-150, which appear on the folio's recto (1-84-154.47 R). Verses 148-151 in particular encourage humans to follow God's Will as described in the Qur'an, since His commands are based on moral law: This Qur'anic fragment includes verses 148-150 of the 6th chapter of the Qur'an entitled al-An'am (The Cattle). Verses 150-151 continue on the fragment's verso (1-84-154.47 V). This surah dates from the late Meccan period. It discusses the nature of God and the manner in which He reveals Himself. Verses 148-151 in particular encourage humans to follow God's path as described in the Qur'an: Script: muhaqqaq 1-84-154.47