Unknown - Dala'il Al Khairat - 1820

A beautifully illuminated miniature bi-folio from the Dala'il Al Khayrat, a collection of prayers for the Islamic prophet Muhammad, which was written by the Moroccan Shadhili scholar Muhammad al-Jazuli (died 1465 AD), and believed to have been scribed in Bokhara. It is the first major book in Islamic history which compiled litanies of peace and blessings upon Muhammad. It is thought to be the most copied book in Islam after the Qur'an. The leaf has exquisite detailing.

It is penned in tightly scripted lines of Arabic naskhi in black ink, pillowed within gold clouds that separate and embellish the individual lines. Gold aya with a central red dot and four raidials mark the start of the individual prayers. There is multi-linear framing around the scripture, with a beautiful floral border wrapping the illumination. There has been some repair made best seen in figure 8f, and what looks like a wormhole in the top right border of the folio. All the repairs have been done with archival repair tape.

The prayers ask God not to overburden the reader, to provide spiritual sustenance, to grant contentment, and to guide the reader on the clear path. It also asks to grant the reader submission to what happens as "God's will".

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