"O"p"e"n" "m"a"n"u"s"c"r"i"p"t" "w"i"t"h" "1"3" "l"i"n"e"s" "o"f" "b"l"a"c"k" "t"e"x"t"," "a"c"c"e"n"t"e"d" "b"y" "r"e"d" "m"a"r"k"s"." "G"o"l"d" "c"i"r"c"l"e"s" "m"a"r"k" "v"a"r"i"o"u"s" "b"r"e"a"k"s" "i"n" "t"h"e" "t"e"x"t"." "T"h"e" "t"e"x"t" "i"s" "e"n"c"l"o"s"e"d" "i"n" "a" "g"o"l"d" "b"o"r"d"e"r"." "I"n" "t"h"e" "l"e"f"t" "m"a"r"g"i"n" "i"s" "a" "s"m"a"l"l" "m"e"d"a"l"l"i"o"n" "i"n" "b"l"u"e"," "r"e"d"," "a"n"d" "g"o"l"d"," "w"i"t"h" "a"n"n"o"t"a"t"i"o"n"s" "i"n" "b"l"a"c"k"," "b"r"o"w"n"," "a"n"d" "r"e"d" "i"n"k"."
AKM488, Qur'an Manuscript

© The Aga Khan Museum

Click on the image to zoom

Qur’an Manuscript
  • Accession Number:AKM488
  • Creator:copied by: Ismail b. `Abdullah of Makassar
  • Place:Indonesia
  • Dimensions:34.5 x 21.5 cm
  • Date:1804/AH 1219
  • Materials and Technique:ink, opaque watercolour, and gold on paper
  • This object is included in the following tour(s):
    Stop #4 of Audio Guide: Diversity

    Click below to listen

    Next up in the Diversity Tour:

      Siavush Marries Farangis,
      AKM274

This rare example of a complete and finely illuminated Qur’an from Sulawesi Island in Indonesia is a magnificent example of the localized artistic traditions in which Muslims chose to copy and decorate their sacred text. The Qur’an has three fully illuminated spreads with complex geometric illuminations in red, black, brown, ochre, and reserved white. What is most interesting here, though, is that in addition to the usual markers at the end of each verse, and the distinctive marker on every fifth verse, this Qur’an has marginal markers in a variety of circle and rosette forms to indicate other points of interest, including the middle of the Qur’an and the beginning of each juz’. It also includes an extensive amount of marginalia on recitation variances, grammar, and interpretation.

Note: This online resource is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. We are committed to improving this information and will revise and update knowledge about this object as it becomes available.

news_icon

Get connected. Stay engaged. Sign up for the latest updates from the Aga Khan Museum