Qur'an in kufic script

With its vertical format and a rather compact, minute kufic script, this manuscript illustrates the transitional phase that Qur’an manuscripts underwent in the Eastern Islamic world during the 4th century AH/10th century CE. The script shows some sharp features that will eventually become standard in the “New Style” script, while the illuminations still resemble earlier ‘Abbasid motifs, with sura titles in thick kufic script in reserve against gold background and large vegetal elements on the margins. In few places, the calligrapher has adopted a curious system to justify the page layout, repeating certain consonants in a row to reach the end of a text line. The small format would have made this manuscript particularly suitable for carrying around and must have been prepared as a copy for personal use.