While most Qur’ans from Southeast Asia are relatively plain, this particular mushaf (single volume Qur’an) has been elaborately illuminated. Instead of having just one double page of illuminations at the front - the norm for most Qur’ans - this mushaf has three in total: at the beginning, in the middle and at the end. All three double pages have been painted with varying designs. The double pages displayed here are from the middle of the Qur’an. Reading is sometimes aided with a pointer, in this case, one carved from bamboo. This Qur’an contains an inscription which states that Haji Muhammad Salih bin War‘iy started copying it out in early Ramadan (9th Islamic month) year 1237, and completed it in the month of Ramadan year 1238 (which corresponds with May 1822 to May 1823).
