This is a fine example of the quality Qur’ans produced in Shiraz, a major centre for Qur’an production in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Qur’anic text is written in two different cursive scripts – gold muhaqqaq for the first, sixth and eleventh lines, and the rest in black naskh. The surah (chapter) headings are written in yet another script – white thulth. The use of multiple scripts on a page date back to the 12th century, but only became the norm for Iranian Qur’ans in the 16th century. It allowed calligraphers to showcase their skill and mastery of the various scripts.
