Textual Embodiments of the Sacred: Analyzing the Qur’anic Inscriptions in Al-Aṣḥāb Mosque of Quanzhou-China

Ameen, Ahmed; Hagras, Hamada

doi:10.21608/shedet.2025.352617.1283

Textual Embodiments of the Sacred: Analyzing the Qur’anic Inscriptions in Al-Aṣḥāb Mosque of Quanzhou-China

Document Type : research articles

Authors

Ahmed Ameen ¹^{, 2}
Hamada Hagras ³

¹ College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sharjah (UAE)

² Fayoum University (Egypt)

³ Islamic Archaeology Dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum University (Egypt)

10.21608/shedet.2025.352617.1283

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the carefully curated Quranic inscriptions adorning the Al-Ashab Mosque in Quanzhou, China, illuminating how these epigraphic elements reflect the local Muslim community's religious beliefs and practices, while also articulating key architectural and devotional concepts that shaped the experiential qualities of the sacred space. Through rigorous on-site documentation, textual analysis, and examination of the inscriptions' aesthetic qualities, the research offers a nuanced understanding of how the Quranic verses and their strategic placement conveyed religious and spiritual meanings, mediated liturgical activities, and contributed to the mosque's overall aesthetic expression. By situating the inscriptions within the broader discourse on Islamic epigraphy and architecture, the study reveals how the carefully selected passages and calligraphic styles articulated pivotal religious concepts, such as the centrality of prayer and the significance of orientation. This in-depth examination contributes to understanding cultural exchanges and religious dynamics focusing on Muslim community in premodern China.

Keywords