The Bosnian collections are very rich of Islamic manuscripts, and, among them, the transcripts of Qur'an stand out. We singled out five the most famous ones.

This article is a part of the project 'Promotion of the Ottoman Cultural Heritage of Bosnia and Turkey' which is organized by Monolit, Association for Promoting Islamic Arts and supported by the Republic of Turkey (YTB - T.C. BAŞBAKANLIK Yurtdışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı / Prime Ministry, Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities).

Qur'an of Mehmed Pasha Sokolović

This is the most valuable transcript of Qur'an in Bosnian collections. It used to have 30 separately uprooted parts (juz), but, only 22 were preserved until today. It was commissioned by the famous Bosniak vizier Mehmed Pasha Sokolović (d. 1579) who endowed this transcript to a mosque in his native town of Sokolovići in Eastern Bosnia. The manuscript is distinguished by the extraordinary calligraphy and illumination that is characteristic for the mature period of the Ottoman decorative art. Now it is part of the manuscript collection of the Gazi Husrev Beg Library in Sarajevo.

image Quran of Mehmed Pasha Sokolović / Courtesy of the Gazi Husrev Beg Library

image Quran of Mehmed Pasha Sokolović / Courtesy of the Gazi Husrev Beg Library

Qur'an of the Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka

By its format, 59 x 40 cm, this is the largest preserved Qur'an (parts of the Qur'an) in Bosnia. From 30 juz, only two were preserved, juz 22 and juz 27. Considering that it is coming from the Ilkhanid period, from the beginning of the 14th century, this is also the oldest transcript in Bosnian collections. It is characteristic by the large thuluth letters (older variant) and interesting colorist approach considering the fact that the lines were written alternately in black and golden color. For quite some time these two juz were kept in the Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka (Northwestern Bosnia), after which they were given the name. Today this Qur'an is part of the manuscript collection of the Gazi Husrev Beg Library in Sarajevo.

image Qur'an of the Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka / Courtesy of the Gazi Husrev Beg Library

image Qur'an of the Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka / Courtesy of the Gazi Husrev Beg Library

Mamluk Qur'an

It is a very important and rare Qur'an manuscript from the Memluk period. It was probably copied in the 14th century in Cairo or Damascus. It is distinguished by a large format, which is characteristic for the Qur'ans from Memluk period. It has a superior script with a very rich illumination, and the headlines of the Surahs are especially beautifully decorated. The manuscript is in Mostar.

image Mamluk Qur'an / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

image Mamluk Qur'an / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Safavid Qur'an

For this manuscript we can determine that it is one of most beautiful Safavid Qur'ans from 16th century. It was transcribed by Abdullah b. Muhammad al-Hafiz aš-Širazi in h.980 / 1572-73. It is distinguished by its large format, extremely rich illumination, especially of the initial Surahs, as well as a very beautiful and elegant calligraphy. This Qur'an represents extremely well the Safavid school of calligraphy and illumination. It is part of the manuscript collection of the Gazi Husrev Beg Library in Sarajevo.

image Safavid Qur'an / Courtesy of the Gazi Husrev Beg Library

Qur'an of Fadil Pasha Šerifović

Generally, this Quran represents one of the most beautiful transcripts in 19th century. It was endowed in the Gazi Husrev Beg Library in 1872 by the famous intellectual and politician Fadil Pasha Šerifović. The transcriber of the famous copy from 1849 is the calligrapher Dagestani, one of the best in his time. The illumination of the first pages is especially impressive, and is often taken as a proof that this type of art was still very developed in the late Ottoman period.

image Qur'an of Fadil Pasha Šerifović / Courtesy of the Gazi Husrev Beg Library


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