Folio from Holy Qur’an

Before you is a 9th-century manuscript page of the Qur’an, dating to a formative period in the development of Islamic book culture. It contains part of verses 70–72 from Surah al-Ṣāffāt and is written in the naskh script, one of the most refined and enduring calligraphic styles.
Naskh is characterized by clarity of proportion and fluid line. By the 9th century it was emerging as a standard script for transmitting the Qur’anic text. Each letter follows a measured system of height, inclination, and spacing, creating visual rhythm alongside verbal recitation.
This is not merely a page of a book but the result of concentrated devotional labor. In Islamic tradition, copying the Qur’an was regarded as an act of service; the precision of script reflected purity of intention.
The selected verses speak of earlier generations and moral choice – themes resonant during the expansion of Islam beyond Arabia.
The large format suggests use for public recitation or preservation within an important religious institution.
This manuscript page demonstrates how, during the First Renaissance of Islamic civilization, theological depth and artistic refinement converged in the culture of the written word.