Illustrated Manuscript

This unidentified manuscript addresses the beliefs and practices of Islam. The colophon, which begins with a reference to the Qur’an rather than the more typical mention of God, may have been added after the manuscript was produced, or part may have been replaced when the manuscript underwent repairs. This would explain why there is no information about the scribe or the title of the work, which has sometimes been identified as a translation of a Zoroastrian text. Although it does include a mention of Zoroaster, it also provides religious instruction and guidance to its Muslim audience, addressing topics such as the distinction between the truly pious and those who pursue worldly affairs, the fall of Iblis, and poor behavior among the religious class. The illustrations may date to the mid-fifteenth century, when the Turkmen style was prevalent in Shiraz.