A PANEL FROM THE BIHAR AL-ANWAR (THE OCEANS OF LIGHTS)
Safavid Iran, 17th century

Arabic manuscript on buff paper, 5ll. of alternating black ink muhaqqaq and naskh scripts, in two different pens and scales, the text referring to special Shi'a prayers extracted from Bihar al-Anwar (The Oceans of Lights) compiled by the famous Shi'a scholar Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi (d. 1699), often recited during the holy month of Ramadan, requesting forgiveness on the Day of Judgement, and blessings in heaven including fine silk clothing, the text reserved in gold cloud-bands, the corners with scrolling floral motifs, set within gold and polychrome rules, with circular marginal shams markers in-filled with gold and polychrome flowerheads against a cobalt blue ground, laid on a marbled paper mount, glazed and framed, the text panel 10cm x 10.5cm, 51cm x 39.5cm including the frame.

Exhibited: 'No god but God: The Art of Islam', the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 2019 - 2020.

Inscriptions:

Top: وثياب السندس والاستبرق والحرير فاكسنا، وصالح الدعاء

Middle: والمسالمة فاستجب لنا

Bottom: وإذا جمعت الأولين والآخرين يوم القيامة فارحمنا، اللهم

Rough translations:

Drape us with attires of brocade, gold-threaded cloth, and silk, and righteous prayers

and may we witness peaceful relations among us,

and when you gather the first and last of peoples on the Day of Judgement have mercy on us, Oh God.”