Koran - Qur'an - Safaivid - 1580

A single illuminated manuscript folio page from a 16th Century Safaivid Persian Qur'an. This folio contains three surahs, al-Alaq (96 end verses), al-Qadr (97 complete) and al-Bayyina (98 beginning verses). These three chapters share a tight thematic, chronological, and narrative flow that describes the birth of revelation and the response of humanity.

Surah 96: The Event — The what and how of the first words coming down ("Read!").
Surah 97: The When — The specific, blessed night (Laylat al-Qadr) the Quran was lowered from the heavens.
Surah 98: The Impact — The identity of the message as clear proof and the moral choice it forces upon humanity


The folio is written in elegant nastaliq with simple but vibrant gold aya verse markings and the occasional devotional marking in red providing guidance to the reader. The scripture is enfolded with a solid gold surround frame with smaller black and then blue liners outside this. The folio contains two illuminated Surah headings within a solid green frame, with the headings in white Thuluth script on gold ground and decorative arabesque book ends. The right margin contains a decorative marginal jus marking the beginnings of the new chapters. The folio is in good condition for its age.

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