2/ Double Folio from a Qur'an
c. 1330-1350, Central Asian or Turkish
Early Muslim settlers from central and western Asia carried Islamic book traditions into India, especially in the form of Qur'ans, such as the one from which these pages come
3/ Closing Prayer in the Jerrāḥ Pasha Qur˒an
Persia, Iran, Shiraz
ca. 1580
1st of 2 pairs of ornamental facing pages that appear at the end of the Jerrāḥ Pasha Qur˒an, made in Shiraz about 1580. It enshrines a prayer written in 12 lines
4/ Qur'an Manuscript, late 18th–early 19th century
India, Kashmir
Illumination found at the opening to 9 of the suras of this Qur'an (al-Fatiha, al-Ma'ida, Yunus, Bani Isra'il, al-Shu'ara, Qaf, al- Falaq, and al-Nas) is in a palette characteristic of Kashmir
Made for a Muslim ruler in or near Delhi, this copy is one of the oldest surviving Qur’ans from India. The scribe used a distinctive script called Bihari with letters ending in long, swooping lines
Calligrapher: Ahmad Sayri. Qur’an with selection of prayers and a falname; Arabic in black naskh script with white headings in illuminated cartouches in thuluth, muhaqqaq, and nasta’liq script
9/ Leaf from a Qur'an, 1100s
Seljuk, Iran
Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper

This Qur'an page is considered one of the most splendid examples of Arabic calligraphy.
Produced for a noble patron from either Granada or Valencia, this 13th century Spanish manuscript of the Qur’an, the sacred text of Muslims, is known as the Pink Qur’an, due to its distinctive tinted paper
11/ Qur'an Manuscript Folio,
Afghanistan, Herat, Safavid period (1501–1722)
Calligraphers who specialized in beautiful writing often dedicated their lives to copying the Qur’an to grow closer to Allah and receive his blessings.
Verses of chapter 1 (Surat al-fatihah) written in Naskh script in black ink with reading marks in red & interlinear gold decoration. Chapter headings & verses are written in Riqa" script in red ink
13/ This exquisite illuminated Qur’an manuscript probably comes from the northeast coast of the Malay peninsula, either from Kelantan in present-day Malaysia, or from Patani in southern Thailand.
This Qur’an was copied in Shiraz, by Muhammad Shafi‘, the most accomplished Persian calligrapher of the 19th century. It is the largest 19th-century Persian Qur’an known.
Dagestan is a republic located in the Russian Federation, & home to a rich manuscript culture. A striking feature of Daghistani manuscript illumination is the vibrant palette of red, yellow, green, purple & brown.
18/ This 17th-century Chinese Qur’an shows how Islamic styles of calligraphy and illumination were combined with local styles, symbols and aesthetics that came from a very different culture.
Rare copy of the Qur’an produced during Tughluq dynasty (1320–1413) India. After the invasion of Timur in 1398–1399, it was taken to Gwalior Fort in southern Agra, where its colophon was completed
The scribe was a pupil of Hüseyin Vehbi, who lived at Shumen in Bulgaria on the borders of the Dobruja. During the late Ottoman period, Shumen was an important provincial centre for the copying, illumination & binding of Qur’ans
The Timurids ruled most of Iran & Central Asia for much of the 15th c. As patrons of the arts they established kitabkhanas (royal library-workshops) in Samarkand & Herat, producing luxurious Qur’ans
Art is a mechanism of contemplation & a tool to explore ideas
From the connection of geometry & nature, the divine beauty of the Qu'ran, visual storytelling, vibing Arabic calligraphy & Muslim pop art there is much to think about in our new Art for Thought series...
A thread...
Artist @RFJamesUK creates elaborate ephemeral artworks using the natural materials he finds in forests, parks, and beaches near his home in Yorkshire, England.
James talks about geometry, nature & the future of Islamic art:
Artist @zahragulraizart uses Arabic Calligraphy in her own bold and distinctive style to spread positive energy into people’s surroundings. Along with her striking use of colours, she focuses around quotes that uplift and inspire:
The conservation of Islamic cultural heritage contributes to inspiring artistic progression for the future
From Uzbekistan to Jordan, the UK & beyond, our new Heritage series explores exquisite mosques & holy sites, multi-sensory experiences, cultural tourism & more
A thread...
1/ A thousand years ago, Bukhārā-ye Sharīf was one of the intellectual & religious centres of the Islamic world. This Islamic heritage continues to draw visitors to Uzbekistan today
@UZAmbassador explores Bukhārā-ye Sharīf & the Holy Sites of Uzbekistan:
From the very earliest stages in the Islamic literary tradition, poetry has reflected the deepest sense of Muslim self-identity, communal history, & aspirations for the future
To mark #WorldPoetryDay we are celebrating 14 Muslim poets who continue this tradition
A thread…
1/ UK based Bahraini writer & poet @ali_mn_aljamri is passionate about Bahraini history, human rights & decolonising education.
Writing in Arabic & English, he was recently appointment as one of 3 Manchester Multilingual City Poets #WorldPoetryDay
2/ Poet Shagufta K Iqbal’s work is personal, intimate & sometimes both bruising – & tender. She uses poetry to reach out & engage with people whose experiences are not reflected within mainstream arts #WorldPoetryDay
Geometric patterns are one of the most distinguishing features of Islamic art, thought to reflect the language of the universe & the greatness of creation
Today, artists are reinterpreting this traditional artform in new ways
A thread on 24 artists redefining Islamic geometry…
1/ After completing a bachelor’s in accounting & finance, Indian artist Antara Biswas took the plunge, switched careers and pursued what she loved doing most, creating art inspired by Islamic geometry…
2/ Artist @SKbydesign work tells stories which are about celebrating something long forgotten, and a reclamation narratives. She is interested in colonial legacies, social justice & using art as a tool for change…
To mark #InternationalWomensDay2022 we are celebrating 24 trailblazing women artists, who are creating work inspired by Islamic tradition
Here are some of the amazing women artists on baytalfann.com imagining a new future for Islamic art & culture #IWD2022
A thread…
1/ Iranian artist, Anahita Alavi specialises in Persian Miniature & Islamic Illumination. She trained in the art of traditional painting under the supervision of a number of great masters in Iran… #IWD2022
2/ For visual artist Margi Lake, the beauty, mystery & genius of Islamic geometric patterns is timeless & universal. They express the principles & realities that govern the cosmos, the natural world & human nature… #IWD2022
In Mamluk Egypt, enameled glass oil lamps were used to light the interiors of mosques. These fragile vessels were suspended from the ceiling by chains attached to the glass loops on their sides
A thread on mosque lamps from Mamluk Egypt, found in museums across the world...
1/ Mosque Lamp
1320-1330, Egypt, Mamluk
This mosque lamp was made for Qijlis, a high official who had been the sultan’s armourer. His emblem was a sword, which can be seen in the large roundels with a quotation from the Qur’an that mentions ‘the mosques of God’