This manuscript contains several ‘surah’ (chapters) of the Qur’an written in neat Maghribi script. The word Allah is picked out in red throughout the manuscript. Maghribi is generally distinguished by its graceful, curved downward strokes and the use of colours for different diacritical marks to indicate vowels. The overall effect is very distinctive and visually pleasing. Specifically developed for copying manuscripts, its use was however limited to Islamic Spain and North Africa. It is not known when Maghribi developed; the earliest surviving secular manuscripts in this script come from the 9th century and the earliest known Qur’an is dated 1090. This script is used till this day in North Africa.
