Picture of a Blue and white bowl

Collection Highlights

MIA’s stunning collection of Islamic art spans artworks from three continents and 1,400 years.

Share with a friend

Ceramics

From humble kitchenwares to elaborate tile panels, ceramics have always been a vital part of everyday life in the Islamic world.

Glass

MIA’s collection includes some of the most famous pieces of Islamic glass, ranging from delicate early pieces to brightly coloured mosque lamps, goblets and medieval vases.

Manuscripts

MIA’s collection includes more than 800 manuscripts from Qur’ans dating from the 7th century to Ottoman works of the 19th century. The famous Abbasid Blue Qur’an is one the finest and rarest manuscripts in the Islamic world, and the museum houses two of only five known pages from the Timurid Baysunghur Qur’an, the largest Qur’an in the world.

As well as the Qu’rans, MIA’s holdings include manuscripts on science, literature and religious subjects.

Metalwork

From arms and armour and scientific instruments, to household objects, the collection represents the highest quality metalwork of the Islamic world from the 7th century to modern times.

Textiles

MIA’s textile collection has some of the finest examples of carpets, costumes and a wide variety of fabrics produced for the elite of the Islamic world.

Picture of Cavalry armour

Cavalry armour. Turkey. Ottoman period, late 9th-early 10th century AH (late 15th-early 16th century CE). Forged and hammered iron alloy, leather and textile. AA.39.1998

Picture of a Red and beige carpet

The ‘Goupil’ Mughal Saf. North India, probably Kashmir. Mughal period, 1034-1060 AH (1625-1650 CE). Silk warp and weft, pashmina (mountain goat) wool pile. CA.79.2004

Picture of a Blue Vase

‘Cavour’ vase. Syria, Damascus. Mamluk period, mid-8th century AH (mid-14th century CE). Gilded and enamelled glass. GL.6.1998

Picture of a Mosque lamp

Mosque lamp. Egypt, Cairo. Mamluk period, 8th century AH (14th century CE). Enamelled and gilded glass. GL.52.2002

Picture of a blue flask

Flask. Syria, Raqqa. Zangid period, 6th century AH (12th century CE). Gilded glass. GL.378.2004

Picture of a white bowl

Bowl. Inscribed with a poem of the Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799 CE). India. Mughal period, 12th century AH (18th century CE). Carved jade. HS.37.2002

Picture of a gold box

Casket. Italy, Amalfi or Sicily. Norman period, 6th century AH (12th century CE). Carved ivory with metal mounts. IV.12.1998

Diamond necklace with emeralds

Necklace. India, Varanasi. Mughal period, 12th century AH (18th century CE) (stones); 13th century AH (19th century CE) (enamel and setting) Gem-set diamonds, emeralds, pearls, gold and enamel. JE.40.1998

Gold falcon

Falcon finial. India, probably Jaipur. 14th century AH (20th century CE). Carved rubies, emeralds, sapphires, onyx, gold and enamel. JE.69.2001

A page from the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp

Jahn installed on the Throne of Turan. Folio from the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp (r. 930-984 AH / 1524-1576 CE). Attributed to Muzaffar ‘Ali. Iran, Tabriz. Safavid period, 931-942 AH (1525-1535 CE). Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper. MIA.2014.77

A page from the Blue Qur’an

Folio from the ‘Blue Qur’an’. Sura al-Baqarah (The Cow), end of verse 33 to verse 37. Spain or North Africa. Umayyad of Al-Andalus period, 3rd century AH (9th century CE). Ink, gold on indigo-blue coloured parchment. MS.8.2006

Manuscript of the Ramayana

Manuscript of the Ramayana. Pakistan, Lahore. Mughal period, dated 25 Shaban 1002 AH (16 May 1594 CE). Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper. MS.20.2000

Portrait of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan on the Peacock Throne

Portrait of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan on the Peacock Throne. Attributed to Govardhan India. Mughal period, painting dated c. 1044 AH (c. 1635 CE); borders c. 1054 AH (c. 1645 CE). Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper with small pearls. MS.45.2007

Picture of a war mask

War mask. Anatolia or western Iran. Aq Qoyunlu or Timurid period, late 9th-early 10th century AH (late 15th-early 16th century CE). Steel with gold koftgari inlay. MW.6.1997

Metal artwork of a horse

Fountain head (The Doha Hind). Spain, Madinat al-Zahra. Umayyad of al-Andalus period, 330-400 AH (940-1010 CE). Cast copper alloy with engravings. MW.7.1997

Incense burner

Incense burner. Made for Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad bin Qala’un (683-742 AH / 1285-1341 CE). Egypt or Syria. Mamluk period, 8th century AH (14th century CE). Hammered brass with silver and gold inlay. MW.467.2007

Portrait of Fath ‘Ali Shah Qajar

Portrait of Fath ‘Ali Shah Qajar. Attributed to Mihr ‘Ali. Iran. Qajar period, dated 1231 AH (1816 CE). Oil painting on canvas. PA.18.2010

Picture of a Blue and white bowl

Blue and white bowl. Iraq, probably Basra. Abbasid period, 3rd century AH (9th century CE). Underglaze-painted earthenware. PO.31.1999. Inscription: ‘What was done was worthwhile’

Picture of a colorful dish

Dish. Turkey, Iznik. Ottoman period, late 10th century AH (late 16th century CE). Underglaze-painted fritware. PO.49.1999

Picture of a dish with a rampant griffin at the center

Dish with rampant griffin. Spain, Manises. Kingdom of Castile and Léon, 9th century AH (15th century CE). Underglaze-painted lustreware. PO.439.2006

Rug with ship embroidery as design

Palepai (double red ship). Indonesia, South Sumatra, Lampung province, probably Kalianda. Paminggir, 1214-1267 AH (1800-1850 CE). Cotton, supplementary weft. QM.2020.0407

Picture of an Astrolabe

Astrolabe Signed by Hamid ibn al-Khidr al-Khujandi (d. 390 AH / 1000 CE). Iran or Iraq, Rayy or Baghdad Buyid period, dated 374 AH / 984-985 CE. Cast and engraved brass with black compound. SI.5.1999

Red curtain

Curtain. Spain, Granada. Nasrid period, 9th century AH (15th century CE). Woven silk. TE.6.1999

Door textile of the Ka'ba

Sitara (door textile) of the Ka‘ba. Made for Sultan Abdülmecid (r. 1254-1278 AH/1839-1861 CE). Egypt, Cairo. Ottoman period, dated 1263 AH (1846-47 CE). Embroidered metal threads on silk. TE.215.2011. Photo © Museum of Islamic Art, Doha

A monumental Ilkhanid Qur’an

A monumental Ilkhanid Qur’an. Copied by Arghun (ibn Abdallah) al-Kamili. Illuminated by Muhammad ibn Sayf al-Din al-Baghdadi (al-Naqqash, ‘The Painter’). Iraq, probably Baghdad. Ilkhanid period, dated Shawwal 725 AH (September-October 1325 CE). Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper. QM.2020.0403