Islamic Writing Tablet inscribed with the Basmala from the Quran (Koran)

Label

This Islamic writing tablet is a tangible link to the timeless tradition of imparting Quranic knowledge. Tablets like these were often used in schools and served as a vital tool for teaching young children the Quran and Arabic script.

The inscription on the tablet commences with Bismillah, invoking the Name of God. In Islamic culture, this phrase signifies seeking God’s blessing in daily life. This tablet includes Al-Fatiha (“the Opener” or “the Key”), the first surah (chapter) in the Quran. It serves as a spiritual threshold, opening the door to the Quran and guiding daily Islamic practices.

This object visualizes the enduring continuity of Muslim traditions, bridging the past and the present. In what ways does this tablet prompt you to contemplate the impact of religious traditions in your own life?

From the 2024 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 120, Faces of Faith: Unveiling the Beauty of Islamic Art, curated by Noor Najeeb '25, Conroy Intern

Course History

Art History 31.01, Arts of South Asia, Seher Agarwala, Fall 2023

History 5.08, African and African American Studies 19.01, Africa and the World, Robby Zeinstra, Fall 2023

History 5.08, African and African American Studies 19.01, Africa and the World, Robby Zeinstra, Fall 2023

Religion 16.05, Middle Eastern Studies 17.20, The Qur'an and the Prophet, Emily Silkaitis, Winter 2024

History 69.01, African and African American Studies 53.01, Religion 74.17, Islam in African, Robby Zeinstra III, Spring 2024

Religion 16.01, Middle Eastern Studies 6.02, An Introduction to Islam, Emily Silkaitis, Spring 2024

Exhibition History

A Space for Dialogue 120, Faces of Faith: Unveiling the Beauty of Islamic Art, Noor Najeeb '25, Conroy Intern, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, September 7 - October 27, 2024.

Anthropology of Religion, Harrington Gallery Teaching Exhibition, Anthropology 48, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, March 30-May 2, 2004.

Provenance

Museum and Art Gallery Reading, England; sold to present collection, 1939.

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