Fol. 8b shows the second Maqama: Abu Zayd in the library of Basra, depicted in an almost square format before a gold background in the lower half of the page. The painting vividly depicts the moment when the narrator al-Harith b. Hammam al-Basri recognises Abu Zayd by his flashes of inspiration and, addressing him, detaches himself from the crowd. However, the background is not compatible with the location of a library where the encounter originally took place, as a flying blue duck, a cypress bending in the wind, and two flanking palmette flowers are present. On the far left, the grey-bearded Abu Zayd in a black dress patterned with yellow arabesque tendrils is standing, pointing to the ground. Opposite him, clad in red and with hands raised vividly, is al-Harith. The large crowd is represented by three men sitting close together, symbolising the various ages and types, and a youthful figure in profile behind them. The others are shown in three-quarter view and clad in elaborately patterned robes with geometric and floral decorations.

On fol. 15b, Abu Zayd and his son are depicted, representing the fourth Maqama in rectangular format before a gold background in the upper half of the page. Al-Harith b. Hammam al-Basri relates how he overheard a conversation full of wisdom between Abu Zayd and his son at dawn. Standing, facing each other, are a grey-bearded man and a youth, the former dressed in blue and the latter in light ochre. Their robes are richly decorated and gilded, and the two figures don elaborate turbans. Their hands are raised and their index fingers lifted in conversation. A blue crescent moon above Abu Zayd indicates the early time of day. An exterior landscape is suggested by multiple birds, flying in the sky and perched on the flowery plants, by a grassy ground line and the water. Abu Zayd’s nobility is expressed by a cloth (mandil) in his right hand; it is carved into the gold background but remains incomplete.

In a rectangular format before a gold background in the upper half of the page, fol. 30b shows the judge having Abu Zayd and his son brought back to him in the eighth Maqama. The judge, feeling fooled by the two, lets them come before him again. Abu Zayd confesses who he is, and he is dismissed with good admonitions. The judge, depicted on the left, is clad in red robes underneath a white cloak and sitting cross-legged on the ground, raising his index fingers to the approaching figures. In front of him, in an exaggeratedly submissive bow, Abu Zayd is shown barefoot in a wide sweeping robe, gesturing to the judge in lively conversation. Behind him are his son as well as a bearded man dressed in blue, who can be identified as the narrator al-Harith b. Hammam al-Basri. Above Abu Zayd, a knotted curtain with dynamically unfolding golden arabesque tendrils is hanging down as a particularly dominant element of the composition.

Al-Harith b. Hammam al-Basri observes Abu Zayd in the tavern (twelfth Maqama) on fol. 42b, in a rectangular format before a gold background in the lower half of the page. Al-Harith joins a travelling party that wants to go from Syria to Iraq. However, they do not have a guide who knows the way. They come across a poorly dressed man who claims that he will guide them safely to their destination. As the man finally leads them through the desert, he recites a long prayer. When they reach their destination, the pious man disappears, having been richly rewarded. But Al-Harith longs for his company, looks for him, and eventually finds him, to his horror, in the tavern. There the guide laughingly recites a wine song and reveals himself to be Abu Zayd. The interior is represented with curtains gathered at the sides and symmetrically distributed bottles and cups on a tray in the centre. The focal point of the painting is a young man sitting in the middle, splendidly dressed in blue and turquoise, holding a wine goblet in his right hand, and grasping the chin of the lute player with his left hand. The female musician is dressed in red and green robes and wears a delicate, transparent veil over a blue cap, which falls over her shoulders and does not cover her face. It is held in place by a long turquoise headband tied at the side. Between the two figures is the head of another youth, and all three have black beauty marks on their faces. On the far left in a black robe patterned with yellow arabesques, shown in profile and in the company of a man dressed in red is Abu Zayd. He holds a wine cup and a white cloth (mandil). On the far right, the head of al-Harith is shown, who listens with disgust to the alleged drinking excesses.

On fol. 48a, the narrator al-Harith b. Hammam al-Basri is shown resting with friends in the midday heat and Abu Zayd is depicted begging (14th Maqama), in a rectangular format before a gold background in the upper half of the page. Al-Harith is returning from the pilgrimage and rests with friends in his leather tent when Abu Zayd and his son beg them for food and mount with a persuasive, well-articulated speech. The blue sky is indicated by a segment of a circle at the top; the landscape is reflected by flowery plants in the background. The heads of two camels and a horse with a feeding bag are visible behind the conical tent. Crowding at its entrance are four squatting people: at the front in bright turquoise robes is al-Harith, raising his hand in conversation. On the right, Abu Zayd in a blue robe and his son in a green robe, are approaching.

Fol. 64b depicts the visit of the friends to Abu Zayd (19th Maqama) in a rectangular format before a gold background in the lower half of the page. Abu Zayd proves to be a cheerful host despite his alleged ill state, keeping his visiting friends with him all day and entertaining them lavishly in the evening. On an elaborately carved and decorated wooden bed lies the sick Abu Zayd in a stiff position, his head in profile and wearing a turquoise robe and white turban. At the head of the bed stands his son clad in ochre robes. Behind the bed, in the centre, is al-Harith b. Hammam al-Basri, the narrator, in black clothes patterned with elaborate vegetal scrolls in yellow. On the right are two men in red and blue robes. The standing figures gesture vividly; only the red-clad man has his head pitifully inclined. The interior is represented by blue spandrels in the top corners, two halved pointed domes on the sides, and a turquoise-coloured flat dome in the centre, projecting over the edge of the painting.

On fol. 126a, a scene of revelry is depicted in a rectangular format before a gold background on the upper half of the page. The narrator al-Harith b. Hammam al-Basri meets a group of people on the way who have loaded wineskins and are preparing to rest. He joins them and realises that among them are very educated people. Suddenly, Abu Zayd arrives at the small gathering and delights them with lively wordplays (36th Maqama). The crowded group of five people hold wine glasses, which they are raising or drinking from. In the centre, Abu Zayd is depicted in a finely patterned turquoise robe, with his head lowered pensively. A youthful figure and a bearded man flank him. On the far left, al-Harith, clad in blue, is drinking from his glass. On the far right is the only standing figure with darker skin and wearing a short black robe patterned with yellow arabesques and a fluttering, white belt cloth. A large bowl with thick green leaves, a wine bottle and two glasses, are depicted in the background above the group of figures. Corner spandrels at the top corners further suggest that the scene is taking place in an interior.