Qur’an leaf

These two leaves are taken from a Qur’an that was bequeathed to the Great Mosque of Kairouan. The Kufic script is somewhat thick and brownish. The vowels are marked by red points in compliance with the method of Abi al-Aswad al-Du'ly. Dots the same colour as the writing, some of which seem to have been added later, indicate the diacritical signs according to the system developed by al-Hajjaj. The tenth verse is marked by a radiating gold medallion enhanced with red dots and the twentieth verse, by the letter kaf written in the margin.

The beginnings of Suras are indicated by a framed area that begins or ends, depending on the page, with the name of the Sura and the number of verses it contains, written in gold Kufic script. Jutting out into the margin at the edge of this frame is a stylised polychrome floral motif. The inside of the frame is decorated with stippled plaits and honeycomb-like geometric motifs.

Judging by the writing of certain letters and the type of decoration, this Qur’an can be dated to the late eighth or early ninth century. The enduring archaistic style of the letters dal and nun brings to mind certain ninth-century Abbasid Qur’ans.[1] The decoration of the beginning of the Suras, however, remains close to the decorative repertoire of Umayyad Qur’ans, which included columns, vases and rosettes; these were studied by François Déroche.[2] One gets the impression that this is an example of the “Caliphate” style of writing and decoration, which spread all over the Islamic world, and is somewhat reminiscent of the Byzantine imperial style. Granted, the basketwork motif formed of interlacing patterns, a decoration that evokes certain ninth-century book-covers produced in Kairouan,[3] does argue for a local origin. But the existence of a Qur’an in the al-Aqsa Library and Islamic Museum in Jerusalem that bears a striking resemblance to this one[4] (the same graphic and decorative features down to the smallest details) prevents us from expressing an opinion on this point. By the same token, the use of the kaf to refer back to the number in this Qur’an’s system of verse division is the same in the two chronogram systems, one of which was practiced in the Muslim East and the other in the Muslim West. Nevertheless, the fact that Kairouan was a great centre for the production of manuscripts during the Aghlabid and Fatimid–Zirid periods, and the fact that the Great Mosque of Kairouan’s collection of Qur’ans includes similar specimens written right in Kairouan argue in favour of a local origin.

[2] Déroche, F. 2004, p. 227–264.

[3] Marçais, G. and Poinssot, L. 1952, planche I-XII.

[4] Qur’an leaf on parchment, eighth–ninth century, Jerusalem, al-Aqsa Library and Islamic Museum, م/ ش/50.