Illuminated Frontispiece

This poem was produced for the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt, Qayt Bay (r.1468-95). It extols the many virtues of the Prophet, that "he surpassed all other prophets in manly form and moral qualities" and that "no one has ever attained his rank in knowledge or in generosity". The poet, al-Busiri, ends by begging God to pardon him and all those who read his poem.