Speaking the Word of God: Illuminated Korans from the Walters Art Museum

The Koran is considered by Muslims to be an exact record of the words that God spoke to the prophet Muhammad (ca. 570–632). For this reason, the Koran can only be written in Arabic. In Islamic culture, the creation of a finely written copy of the Koran was considered the highest form of religious devotion. Showcasing a stunning array of 22 manuscripts from the collection of the Walters Art Museum, this exhibition will present Korans from different regions of the Muslim world, following the development of calligraphy from the ninth to the 19th century.