Qur'an Manuscript

The Qur'an is a guide for personal conduct as well as community life, and governs most aspects of Muslim life and culture. Because its words were revealed in Arabic, the Qur'an is thus always recited in Arabic and written in this language and script, which is composed from right to left. This Qur'an, with a beautifully decorated unwan, or title page, includes an inscription indicating that it was copied by a scribe, Muhammad al-Farid, who described himself as a student of a learned Islamic scholar, Muhammad al-Maruf, who was a hajji (had completed the pilgrimage to Mecca), a hafiz (had learned the Qur'an by heart), and the imam (prayer leader) of an important mosque.