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

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.

Credit: Edward L. Whittemore Fund