A Russian boy became a Muslim idol when passages from the Koran appeared on his skin.

Doctors were left baffled when text from the religious book began appearing on the boy's back, arms, legs and stomach.

The boy - from Dagestan, southern Russia - first knew something was wrong shortly after the baby was born when the word ‘Allah' appeared on his chin.

Doctors say the words are not the result of someone writing on his skin.

His parents originally hid the boys marks but sought medical advice when they kept coming back.

They claim the old passages fade twice a week before new words appear.

His mother said: "It's impossible to hold him when it's happening, his body is actively moving, so we put him into his cradle. It's so hard to watch him suffering."