Religious folio - Muslim Prayer Manuscript - 1805

A finely illuminated double-section manuscript from a personal prayer book (du'a or award collection) dated c1805 CE (1220 AH). The folio features and exquisite central chapter-opening illumination (sarlawh) - a gold a polychrome medallion in blue, red and green floral arabesque, flanked by ornamental floral vine borders in pink and green throughout. The script is in fine naskh in black ink with gold horizontals separating the lines of text. It is very elegant.

The Upper text concludes the previous chapter with..."that which is found with Allah is better and greater in reward. So seek forgiveness in Allah - indeed, Allah is forgiving and Merciful".

The Lower text opens the new chapter with the traditional Bismillah and "What are they asking one another about? About the momentous news that they disagree over". This is taken from chapter 78 of the Qur'an, Surat al-Naba (The Momentous News), concerning the Day of Resurrection and divine judgement.

Prayer books like these are among the most intimate of all Islamic manuscripts, carried daily, handled in devotion, and often passed down through generations as cherished family heirlooms.

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