Qur'an Manuscript Folio (verso) (right side of bifolio)

1300s–1400s

ink, gold, and colors on paper

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Not currently on view

In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · as of August 2026

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Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

It is through the Arabic language that the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in the 600s. As a result, calligraphy is celebrated as the highest form in Islamic art. The verses ( ayat ) written here come from the 53rd chapter ( surah ) of the Qur’an, also known as the Surah An-Najm, the Chapter of the Star. The significance of the Qur’an provides an explanation for the importance of calligraphy, but its use was not restricted to religious texts. Many objects in the museum's Islamic collection bear calligraphic inscriptions and come from secular contexts, displaying the versatility and creativity of this art form.

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