This Qur’an fragment contains two leaves; one with five lines per page written in Kufic script while the other contains gold illumination with geometric and foliate motifs. The Kufic script is the primitive form of the Arabic writing and it was in this style that the Qur’an was originally written. Decorated folios such as this would have formed the opening and the closing leaves of one juz’ (section) of the Qur'an. For Muslims, the Qur'an is the visual embodiment of the Word of God and is hence considered sacred. The pious desire to beautify the Word of God was a central factor in the development of calligraphy in the Islamic world. One interesting aspect of Islamic art is that the form of expression can be found in a variety of media - thus you can find calligraphy in manuscripts or as large inscriptions done in stone for buildings.
