Folio from the Holy Qur’an

This small-format folio from the 11th–13th centuries represents the intimate scale of mature medieval manuscript culture. It combines verses 17–21 of Surah al-Layl with verses 1–3 of Surah al-Duha – passages united by themes of moral striving, hope, and divine reassurance.
Surah al-Layl concludes with the promise that the righteous will be satisfied, while Surah al-Duha opens with an oath by the morning light and the assurance that the Lord has neither forsaken nor abandoned His Messenger.
The naskh script is refined and balanced. A gilded surah heading provides a strong horizontal accent, and small floral rosettes mark pauses and textual divisions. The black ink of the main text contrasts with delicate polychrome ornamentation.
The page suggests a manuscript intended for personal reading and contemplation.
This folio reflects the phase of the First Renaissance when naskh became the dominant and standardized script for Qur’anic manuscripts, uniting clarity of reading with artistic refinement.