Qur’an with interlinear translation to Persian

Qur’an with interlinear translation to Persian
Manuscript on paper, Iran, 19th century 

In 1839, the Jewish community in the Iranian city of Mashhad suffered a devastating pogrom. Jews who were not killed were forcibly converted to Islam. However, the converts continued Jewish observance in secret; despite a royal decree a few years later allowing them to return to their religion, most began practicing Judaism openly only after World War II. This experience led Mashhadi Jews to develop a unique and resilient religious culture that also incorporated Islamic elements. The Qur’an on display here is one example. This copy was preserved by generations of the Hakimian family who recorded births, deaths, and important events in the margins, as on the page shown here. The Qu’ran was donated by family member Danny Hakimian in 2023.