Unknown - Prayer Book - 1790

An illuminated Islamic book of prayers and supplications in Arabic manuscript on paper, C1790, most likely North India/Kshmiri origin, written in black naskh with red rubication, gold-flecked test panel and with catchwords present indicating that it is likely a consecutive run of pages. 19 pages of prayer, with 11 lines per page, each line separated by decorative gold clouds.

A highly attractive double page illuminated 'section opening' lights up the manuscript. The decoration is very typical North Indian/Kashmiri with polychrome and gold floral decoration nodes and bands enfolding the text boxes, with each page being a mirror image decoration. The text panels invocation reading for right to left:

" O God, magnify his standing, make clear his proof, and make radiant is argument. Make plain his excellence: accept his intercession for his community, and let us act by his Sunna, O Lord of the worlds, and Lord of the Mighty Throne, O God, O Lord, gather us...........

.....in his company and beneath his banner, Give us to drink from his cup and benefit us through love of him. Amen, O Lord of the worlds, O God, O Lord, convey to him from us the best of peace, and reward him on our behalf with the best that you have rewarded any prophet on behalf of his community, O Lord of the worlds."

The leaves before and after the illumination offer standard salawat (blessing on the prophet) and supplications by the divine names, a litany of the prophets, "and by you the names by which Noah called upon you, peace be upon him...Salih...Jacob...Joseph...Jonah...Moses...Aaron...Shu'ayb.....etc.

Contemporary stamped leather covers (internal binding perished), with central mandarin, pendants and corner pieces. Condition disbound, paper toning and some staining. Despite these obvious faults this is a really interesting historical manuscript with much to commend it.

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