A section (juz') of a Qur'an, sura 3:92-170

Object Details

• Description

  Manuscript; section of Qur'an; Sura al- Imran (Family of Imran) 3:92-170; text: Arabic in brown magribi script with heading in thuluth script; vocalized in purple, tashdid and sukun in blue; 40 folios with a frontispiece (fols. 1 verso, 2 recto), inscription (folio 39 verso) and a finispiece (folio 40 recto), an unwan (folio2 verso), verse markers, roundels, stylized palmettes, and pear-shaped medallions containing the word for "ashr" or "khams"; standard page: one column, 6 lines of text.

  Binding: The manuscript is bound in a modern cloth-cover.

• Inscriptions

  Folio 39 verso, "the complete seventh juz'; praise the Lord (Allah); blessing upon Muhammad, prophet of God."

• Label

  The fine rounded forms and sweeping curves of the letters here are typical of the so-called maghribi (western) script, used throughout North Africa and southern Spain. These pages are also remarkable for their intricate, illuminated designs. A medallion within the text signifies a verse ending, while a larger one in the margin indicates the end of a section. The last line of text, written in gold in a densely spaced, cursive script, contains blessings on the Prophet Muhammad. To accentuate the break in the text, an elaborate sunburst medallion occupies the entire left page. While these markers were essential to the correct reading of the text, they also added significantly to the beauty of the pages. The purple coloring is the result of mildew damage.

  The verse is from the third chapter of the Qur'an, known as al-Imran, (The Family of Imran) and refers to all Hebrew prophets from Moses to Christ. It celebrates the joys and divine bounty reserved for Muslims.

• Provenance

  1931

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962), New York 1931 [1]

  From 1931

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Hagop Kevorkian, New York in 1931 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] Object file, undated folder sheet note.

  [2] See note 1. Also see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Caliphs and Kings The Art and Influence of Islamic Spain (May 8 to October 17, 2004)

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Islamic Art (May 9, 1993 to June 3, 1997)

  Near Eastern Art (January 1, 1963 to August 18, 1967)

  Islamic Art, Gallery 6A (July 22, 1958 to June 5, 1964)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts, 1947 (October 6, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian and Near Eastern Art (May 5, 1933 to September 24, 1947)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)

• Origin

  Probably North Africa or Spain

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1100s, 1200s

• Name

  Kevorkian, Hagop

• Place

  North Africa, Spain

• Topic

  Frontispiece, Art, Maghribi script, Finispiece, Arts of the Islamic World, Illumination, Qur'an, Sura 3

• Culture

  Muslims

• Language

  Thuluth script

• Object Type

  Manuscripts