Title: Two Folios of a Seljuk Era Qur’an| صفحتان من النمصحف من عهد السلجوقية
Scribe: Unknown | مجهول
Script: Muhaqqaq
Date: ~ 12th Century CE (494H/1101CE to 597H/1200CE)
Size: 34 X 24.5 CM
Folios: 2ff.
Description: 5 Lines / Page | Early Arabic Laid Paper | Black ink with gold rosettes for verse endings and Lafdh al Jalaalah (الله) written in gold ink| Many wormholes have damaged the paper, particularly around the edges. |
Fol 1:
Incipit:أو القتل وإذا لا تمتعون إلا قليلا. قل من ذا الذي يعصمكم من الله ان اراد بكم سؤا أو أراد بكم رحمة
Explicit: أشحة على الخير أولئك
Fol 2:
Incipit: وفضل الله المجاهدين على القاعدين أجرا عظيما
Explicit: الا المستضعفين من الرجال والنساء والولدان
Provenance: From a Private Collection
Research Notes: The Seljuk Empire were descendant from the Oghuz Turks and officially began in 1040 (431H) with Sultan Tughril Beg who conquered Nishapur in 1038 CE before expanding the Seljuk (Seljuq) empire to soon cover Baghdad, Anatolia, and Isfahan. The empire officially collapsed in 1157 CE (551H), although the Anatolian Seljuk empire remained in power in a limited area until 1246 CE (643H). Seljuk Qur’ans of the 11th century often implemented the ‘Abbasi (Kufic) “New-Style”. However, there are examples of 12th century Seljuk Qur’ans written in Muhaqqaq script. The So-called “Eastern Kufic” or “New Style Abbasi” script Seljuq Qur’ans are often more valuable although match their Muhaqqaq counterparts in rarity. Eight Folios of a Seljuq Qur’an from 12th Century Persia sold at Christie’s (Sale 8673; Lot 518; April 25, 2013) for $1,552. Three folios of an Anatolian Seljuq or possibly Ilkhanid 13th/14th century CE Qur’an sold at Christie’s (Sale 5526; Lot 321; October 10, 2014) for $1,300. An entire 12th or 13th century Persian Seljuq Qur’an in Muhaqqaq Script comprising 462 folios sold at Christie’s (Sale 6373; Lot 19; October 10, 2000) for $83,950.
Accession #: Ms.110ff