Muslim devotional pictures

The original of several of the images on the following pages come from a larger poster of 32 such images, each measuring 5,9x8,6 cm, purchased in Qum, Iran, May 1999 by Ingvild Flaskerud. These images are referred to as: Original: Small images, Ingvild Flaskerud, Qum 1999. Thanks to Zahra Kamalkhani for help in translating Farsi texts. A larger version of each image is available by clicking the individual picture. All quotations from the Koran are taken from M. A. S. Abdel Haleem's translation, The Qur'an, Oxford University Press, 2004.

God and the Quran
	In large writing, the word "Allah", and in smaller writing the praising jalli jalaluh: "God, Mighty and Glorious is He!". Islam does not allow making images of God. This makes calligraphic representations of the word for God, "Allah", and various praisings of God, even more important. Original: Small images, Ingvild Flaskerud, Qum 1999.

This text is one of the most popular verses in the Koran, the Throne Verse (Sura 2, verse 255). As a heading, the "basmalla": "In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy", then follows the Koran verse: "God: there is no god but Him, the Ever Living, the Ever Watchful. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. All that is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Him. Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His leave? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, but they do not comprehend any of His knowledge except what He wills. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth; it does not weary Him to preserve them both. He is the Most High, the Tremendous." (From M. A. S. Abdel Haleem's translation, The Qur'an, Oxford University Press, 2004.) Original: 17x23 cm, produced by Muslim Information Services, 233 Seven Sisters Road, London N4.

The text on this picture is the same as on the previous picture. Original: Small images, Ingvild Flaskerud, Qum 1999.

According to Muslim belief, the Koran is the actual words of God. Thus the Book partakes of God's sacredness. On the frontcover of the Koran on the picture, the title is Al-Qur'an al-karim - "The noble Koran", then follows a quote: "this is truly a noble Qur'an, in a protected Record that only the purified can touch" (Sura 56:77-79, from M. A. S. Abdel Haleem's translation, The Qur'an, Oxford University Press, 2004; the remainder of the text on the image is not readable). The admonition "that only the purified can touch" is often found under the title in Koran editions, and refers to Islam's rules of purification, which i.a. demands that the person reciting the Koran or touching the Koran, must be ritually purified. Original: 27x18 cm, printed in Italiy. Purchased in Zaqaziq in Egypt October / November 1980 by Richard J. Natvig.

God and the Quran Muhammad Shia Islam's sacred places Back to start