Name of Object:Mashaf (Qur’anic manuscript) of Barsbay Location:Jerusalem Holding Museum:Islamic Museum, al-Aqsa Mosque / al-Haram al-Sharif About Islamic Museum, al-Aqsa Mosque / al-Haram al-Sharif, Jerusalem Date of Object:Hegira 825–41 / AD 1422–37 Museum Inventory Number:م/ ش/1 Material(s) / Technique(s):Coloured ink on paper, decorated and illuminated; the binding of leather. Dimensions:Length 110 cm, width 85 cm, depth 13 cm Period / Dynasty:Mamluk Provenance:Probably Damascus, Syria. Description:A copy of the second half of the Holy Qur'an. It was an endowment (waqf) to al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem by Sultan al-Ashraf Barsbay. This mashaf was given to him by the city of Damascus during his stop-over there part-way on a journey to a final destination in AH 836 / AD 1432. He sent it to al-Aqsa Mosque and made the sheikh of the Madrasa Salihiyya its custodian. He appointed Sheikh Shams al-Din Muhammad bin Qatlubga al-Ramli who was a famous orator in Jerusalem, to read this mashaf. View Short DescriptionThis is the second half of a Qur’anic manuscript endowed to al-Aqsa Mosque by Sultan al-Ashraf Barsbay. It is the biggest Qur’an in Palestine (110 cm x 170 cm when open). It is written in beautiful thuluth script in black ink on a thick, strong paper and has many decorations. The name al-Jalala (Majesty) and the name of the Prophet are illuminated wherever they appear. Original Owner:Sultan al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Barsbay (r. AH 825–41 / AD 1422–37) How date and origin were established:The dates established for the mashaf is supported by historical sources, such as a passage in the book of historian, Mujir al-Din al-Hanbali. How Object was obtained:The mashaf was transferred at an unknown date from al-Aqsa Mosque to the Islamic Museum. How provenance was established:It is probable that the mashaf was produced in Damascus where it was given to Sultan al-Ashraf Barsbay. Selected bibliography:Al-Hanbali, Mujir al-Din, (d. 927 / 1520), Al-Uns al-Jalil fi Tarikh al-Quds wa al-Khalil [The Significant Ambiance in the History of Jerusalem and Hebron], Amman, 1973. Citation of this web page:Khader Salameh "Mashaf (Qur’anic manuscript) of Barsbay" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;pa;Mus01;28;en Prepared by: Khader Salameh
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