Monde islamique - Manuscrit islamique ancien – Récit religieux sur le prophète Mahomet et ses compagnons. - 1700-1800

Old Islamic manuscript – Arabic script of the Jawi type – Religious account of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions – Presumed 19th century.
Double manuscript leaf, written on both sides.
4 pages – 20.5 × 13.5 cm – Black and red inks – Presumed Southeast Asia.
An interesting old double manuscript leaf, entirely handwritten across its four pages, featuring an Islamic religious text in Arabic script, in a hand with characteristics compatible with the Jawi tradition, historically used in the Malay world and various regions of Southeast Asia.
The language may be Classical Malay, or another regional language using an adapted Arabic alphabet. This linguistic identification remains provisional and would require a complete transcription to be confirmed.
The manuscript is distinguished by its regular calligraphy, executed mainly in black ink, with several words, invocations and religious expressions highlighted in pinkish-red ink.
The careful composition, alternation of colors and harmonious arrangement of the lines bear witness to a tradition of religious manuscript copying.
The text most likely belongs to Islamic narrative and devotional literature.
Recognizable passages refer to the Prophet Muhammad, his companions and various traditions relating to the earliest generations of Muslims.
Several figures and religious references are identifiable or appear to be mentioned: The Prophet Muhammad, accompanied by the traditional blessings. Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s companion and the first caliph. Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph. Ali, a major figure in Islamic history. The Prophet’s companions and their religious traditions.
Invocations and expressions of praise to Allah.
The manuscript appears to develop an account devoted to the words, conduct and teachings of the Prophet and those around him.
It may come from a larger work of religious narratives, prophetic traditions or Islamic history.
The exact identification of the work, its author and its title remains to be established.
The clearly recognizable Arabic expressions make it possible to identify the manuscript’s religious context.
« محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم »: Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
« الحمد لله »: Praise be to Allah.
« رب العالمين »: Lord of the worlds.
« بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم »: In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
« رضي الله تعالى عنهم »: May Allah the Exalted be pleased with them.
These expressions accompany a narrative text whose passages appear to refer to the Prophet’s companions, their exchanges and their actions.
The overall content appears to concern the transmission of Islam’s religious and historical traditions.
This description constitutes an analysis of the identifiable content and is not a complete word-for-word translation.
The manuscript is written in Arabic script, with graphic features compatible with writing systems used in the Malay world.
The principal hypothesis is that the text is in Classical Malay, transcribed in Jawi script.
Jawi is an adaptation of the traditional Arabic alphabet that has been used to write Malay and transmit religious, historical and literary texts.
This script was used in particular in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and various regions of the Indonesian archipelago.
However, another regional language using a script derived from the Arabic alphabet cannot be ruled out.
The geographical origin is therefore cautiously attributed to the Malay cultural world or, more broadly, to Islamic Southeast Asia.
Presumed 19th century, approximately 1800–1900.
This estimate is based on the manuscript’s overall appearance, its calligraphic presentation, its inks and the visible characteristics of the support.
These elements do not, however, allow for a certain dating.
Old Islamic religious manuscript.
One double leaf, written on both sides.
Four fully handwritten pages.
Dimensions: 20.5 × 13.5 cm.
Arabic script, presumed to be of the Jawi type.
Old ivory-colored paper support.
Presumed geographical origin: Malay world or Southeast Asia.
Date: 19th century.
Old leaf showing natural patina, a central fold, slight signs of handling and a few irregularities in the paper.
An original double leaf, four handwritten pages, featuring an Islamic religious text in Arabic script with red accents, probably from the manuscript tradition of the Malay world.
The photographs form an integral part of the description.
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