Name of Object:Maghrebi rab’a Also known as:Maghrebi Qur’an manuscript 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 745 / AD 1344 Artist(s) / Craftsperson(s):Calligrapher: Abu al-Hasan al-Marini. Museum Inventory Number:م/ ش/30 Material(s) / Technique(s):Black ink on gazelle parchment; binding of illuminated leather. Dimensions:Length 22 cm, width 20 cm, depth 5 cm Period / Dynasty:Marinid Provenance:Maghreb. Description:A rab’a, a Qur'anic manuscript divided into 30 parts, each of which has an independent binding. The rab’a was preserved in a square wooden box covered on the outside with leather and embellished by four embossed decorative bands that incorporate geometric patterns outlined with silver thread. In between the four bands are three silver belts which reach from the back to the front of the box to support it. Each belt is decorated with three star-like shapes made from silver and overlaid with blue enamel. In all, the box bears 10 decorative forms in the same style; on the four corners of the box, for example, there are geometric shapes inlaid with mother-of-pearl and red and blue enamel. View Short DescriptionA rab’a, a Qur’anic manuscript in 30 parts, preserved in a wooden box covered with leather and decorated with silver bands. The texts are in Maghrebi kufic script, written with saffron water on gazelle parchment. The rab’a is filled with decorative motifs, colours and illumination. This is one of three rab’a written for Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem; only the last copy has come down to us. Original Owner:Commander of the Faithful, Abu al-Hasan Ali, the first Marinid (ruled in the Maghreb AH 732–49 / AD 1331–48) How date and origin were established:The rab’a is dated by an inscription. How Object was obtained:The piece was transferred at an unknown date from al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to the Islamic Museum. How provenance was established:The Maghreb was narrowed down as the place of production for this manuscript based on the waqf charter that appears at the end of each volume. For example, the waqf in the eighth volume reads: “The eighth volume of this Holy Qur'anic manuscript completes a part of a thirty volume series, all of which have been written in the handwriting of Abd Allah Ali, amir of the Muslims, son of the amir of the Muslims, Abi Said Uthman, son of the amir of the Muslims, Abi Yusuf Ya'qub bin Abd al-Haqq, ruler of the Maghreb, May God bless him, and it has been endowed for recitation in al-Aqsa Mosque.” Selected bibliography:Al-Makri, A., (d. 1041 / 1631), Nafaha al-Tayab (al-Tayb) min Ghasan Ghusn al-Andalus al-Ratib [A Pleasant Breeze from the Branch of Verdant al-Andalus], Vol. 2, Leiden, 1860. Citation of this web page:Khader Salameh "Maghrebi rab’a" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;pa;Mus01;26;en Prepared by: Khader Salameh
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