Inscribing God’s Word
Since the first century of Islam, Muslims have inscribed Qur’anic verses and phrases on buildings and other objects made for a wide range of purposes. This chapter addresses these inscriptions. An introductory section lays out the scope and limitations, the historiography of the subject, and some of the directions research has taken and might take. A second section surveys the ways that these Qur’anic texts have been used, showing both how Muslims considered the Revelation and how they cited it. A third section deals with layout, technique, and style, investigating how these formal features enhanced the message. Along the way, the chapter also points out directions in which such Qur’anic inscriptions might be profitably studied in these and other ways.