Inscriptional Panel from a Mosque

Unknown

late 16th–17th century · Basalt · Islamic Art

Arabic Inscription (from the Qur'an, Sura 9 [al-Tawba]:18): "God most High and Holy and Blessed says, ‘Only he shall inhabit God’s places of worship who believes in God and the Last Day, and pays the alms, and fears none but God alone; it may be that those will be among the guided.’" This panel comes from a mosque, and was part of an inscription that recorded the building’s benefactor and date of construction. It includes a verse from the Qur'an that is commonly used on such dedicatory panels. This example is made of basalt, a type of stone found in the eastern Deccan that was used for decorative purposes in many types of buildings.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 16th–17th century

Medium

Basalt

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Louis V. Bell Fund, 1986