At the start of the fourth century AH, a style of broken script known as Naskh emerged as the official script for writing the Quran. The oldest known manuscript in this script is designated as Is 1431 in the Chester Beatty Library, dating back to 391 AH (1000-1 CE) and attributed to Ali ibn Hilal, famously known as Ibn Bawab. Renowned as one of the foremost Arab calligraphers, Ibn Bawab’s manuscript is considered both his only surviving work and the oldest gilded manuscript in Arabic.

This Chester Beatty manuscript comprises 286 leaves, with each page featuring 16 lines of text. The Quran is skillfully rendered in a bold Naskh script, with letters, words, and lines closely spaced to maintain clarity and readability. Moreover, the manuscript incorporates additional scripts, including a form of Thuluth and pseudo-Kufi. The exquisite illumination of this manuscript, which adds to its unique charm, is likely the handiwork of Ibn Bawab himself, showcasing his exceptional talent in both calligraphy and illumination.