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an open book with arabic writing on itan old book with a picture of a man riding a horse on it
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163 - The Middle Ages – Arabia
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Estimate €800 - €1,200
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Description
The Middle Ages – Arabia Muhammad b. Sulayman al-Jazuli Dala’il al-khayrat. Five double-page spreads illuminated in gold, red, pink, orange, dark blue and black; the gold-illuminated diagram of the holy sites of Mecca and Medina; all text pages consistently adorned with gold, floral designs and borders. Arabic manuscript on paper with Persian marginal titles. Naskh script in black ink, consistently vocalised. 11 lines. Text area approx. 13 x 7.5 cm. Sheet size approx. 19 x 10 cm each. 103 folios. Restored leather binding. Probably India, Kashmir, c. 1750/1780. On the palaeography: The script is a large, clear Naskh in black ink, consistently vocalised. The letterforms are rounded and uniform. The style corresponds to Indo-Persian Naskh and not to Maghribi, which one would expect to find in early copies of the work. Red ink highlights the invocation ‘Allahumma’ and the name ‘Muhammad’. Each line is set within a cloud-like border (abr) on a gold background. The marginal titles and notes indicating the days of the week are written in a Persian script, presumably Taliq or Nastaliq. These divide the sections by day. Regarding the decoration: alongside the magnificent illuminated double-page spreads is a double-page diagram of the holy sites. On the right, Mecca is depicted, with the Kaaba and its terraced areas. On the left are depicted Medina and the Prophet’s tomb, along with the minbar. The decoration bears the hallmarks of the late Mughal and Kashmiri styles. Comparison with documented examples supports the attribution to North India, late 18th century. Regarding the content: The *Dala’il al-khayrat* by the Moroccan Sufi al-Jazuli (d. 869/1465) is one of the most widely circulated Islamic devotional books. It contains invocations of blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, divided into seven days of the week (hizb) so that they can be read daily. It also includes a list of the Prophet’s names and descriptions of his tomb in Medina. This codex preserves al-Jazuli’s widely used prayer book containing invocations of blessings upon the Prophet. The introduction states the title of the work: (wa-sammaytuhu bi-kitab Dala’il al-khayrat wa-shawariq al-anwar fi dhikr a-’alat ala n-nabi l-mukhtar, “and I named it: Book of the Signs of Good Deeds and the Radiant Lights for the Remembrance of Blessings upon the Chosen Prophet”). The blessings appear in litanies featuring the Abrahamic formula. - Some slight worm-eaten marks, mainly in the margins; a few leaves show slightly heavier damage. - Overall, a magnificent Indo-Islamic manuscript. Medieval – Arabia – Muhammad b. Sulayman al-Jazuli. Dala’il al-khayrat. With five gold-illuminated double-page spreads in gold, red, pink, orange, dark blue and black, and a gold-illuminated diagram of the sanctuaries of Mecca and Medina. All text pages are decorated throughout with gold and floral designs. Arabic manuscript on paper with Persian marginal headings. Naskh in black ink, fully vocalised. 11 lines. Text area approx. 13 x 7.5 cm. Leaf size approx. 19 x 10 cm. 103 ff. Restored leather binding. Probably India, Kashmir, c. 1750/1780. Palaeography: The script is a large, clear naskh in black ink, fully vocalised. The letterforms are round and even. The ductus corresponds to Indo-Persian naskh rather than the Maghribi script that would be expected in early copies of the work. Red ink highlights the invocation ‘Allahumma’ and the name ‘Muhammad’. Each line is set within a cloud-band (abr) on a gold ground. The marginal headings and notes on the days of the week are written in a Persian script, probably ta’liq or nasta’liq. They divide the sections by day. Decoration: In addition to the splendid illuminated double-page spreads, the manuscript contains a double-page diagram of the sanctuaries. Mecca is shown on the right, with the Kaaba and the terraced areas. Medina is depicted on the left, with the Prophet’s tomb or the minbar. The decoration is late Mughal, or rather Kashmiri, in character. Comparison with documented examples supports an attribution to North India, late 18th century. Content: The *Dala’il al-khayrat* by the Moroccan Sufi al-Jazuli (d. 869/1465) is one of the most widely read Islamic devotional books. It contains blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, divided into the seven days of the week (hizb) so that they can be recited daily. It also includes a list of the Prophet’s names and descriptions of his tomb in Medina. The present codex preserves al-Jazuli’s well-known prayer book. The introduction gives the title of the work: (wa-sammaytuhu bi-kitab Dala’il al-khayrat wa-shawariq al-anwar fi dhikr as-salat ‘ala n-nabi l-mukhtar, ‘and I named it: the Book of the Waymarks of Blessings and the Rising Lights in Remembrance of the Blessing upon the Chosen Prophet’). The blessings appear in litanies using the Abrahamic formula. Condition: Slightly worm-eaten in places, mainly at the margins, with some leaves more heavily affected. Overall, a magnificent Indo-Islamic manuscript. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This work is subject to the standard margin scheme. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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