Three illuminated Qur'an leaves, Egypt, Mamluk, 14th century

text: Qur'an, surah al-'ankabut (XXIX), middle of verse 67 to surah al-rum (XXX), middle of verse 24; surah Luqman (XXXI), middle of verse 32 to surah al-sajda (XXXII), middle of verse 21; surah al-fath (XLVIII), middle of verse 20 to surah al-hujurat (XLIX), middle of verse 4

Arabic manuscript on paper, 15 lines to the page, the first, middle and last line in large thuluth, the remaining lines in small naskh in black ink, verses separated by gold florets, khams and 'ashr marked by gold and polychrome illuminated marginal medallions, surah headings in white eastern Kufic on gold and polychrome illuminated panels 

38.2 by 28cm. each

Calligraphers showed their prowess by juxtaposing various scripts within a continuous text. In this Mamluk example, the calligrapher has written the main body of the text in naskh flanked and divided by large lines of thuluth, while the surah headings display a decorative Kufic.