Section of a Qur'an Manuscript

`Umar Aqta'

late 14th–early 15th century · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper · Islamic Art

These two lines of calligraphy in elegant muhaqqaq script are from chapter 40 (Sura al-Mu'min, The Believer) of the Qur'an. The fragment on which they are written was once part of a Qur'an manuscript that is probably the largest ever produced. Originally, each page included seven lines of script copied on one side only. A double-page would fit perfectly into the gigantic stone Qur'an stand made for the congregational mosque of Bibi Khanum in Samarqand and commissioned by a grandson of Timur (Tamerlane, d. 1405). Its calligrapher was likely the renowned 'Umar Aqta'. Historical sources tell us that 'Umar tried to impress Timur by writing a Qur’an so small that it could fit under a signet ring. When the sultan was unmoved, 'Umar wrote a Qur'an so large that it had to be brought to Timur on a cart.

Artist

`Umar Aqta'

Date

late 14th–early 15th century

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Anonymous Gift, 1972