Ancient Artifact Review 107 : Antique Islamic marble/ tile from Essaouira Morocco ( 19th Century) - بركة محمد (Barakah Muhammad )

 

This is a rare marble slab from most likely the town of Essaouira, Morocco from 18-19th Century. The tile is made from white marble and inscribed with Arabic words, بركة محمد

The inscription looks like  بركة محمد  pronounced as Barakah Muhammad means blessing of Prophet Muhammad.

"Barakat Mohammed" is a sacred term for the inhabitants of Essaouira and you can find this inscription almost everywhere in the town.

The inhabitants of this town adorn their houses, shops, and building with this saacred inscription to invoke blessings.

The establishment of this type of tile dating from 18th century at the foundation of the town by the Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah al-Qatib ( Mohammed III c. 1710-1790), calling about divine protection of the town. He let build a fortress originally called Souira ("the small fortress"). Later the name was Es-Saouira ("the beautifully made, the picture") Today this town is called Essaouira.

Notice the "Barakat Mohammed" plate on the wall upper right (Souk el Jdid)

Compare this inscription with the calligraphy in the 17th Century Quranic Manuscripts from Morocco :

Kufi Quran Page

Also compare with my other similar tile but for Jews and inscribed in Hebrew :

Jewish Tile Barak

Artifact Specs :

Item : Marble Tile

Content :  بركة محمد  (Barakah Muhammad ) means blessing of Prophet Muhammad.
Dim : 13.5cm x 13.5cm x 2cm
Date : 19th Century CE
Purchased Price :
Reference : Pottery from Morocco 19th-20th Century

Ancient Manuscript Review 207 : Antique Ottoman Era Commercial document / Letter ( 1251 AH / 1835 CE)

 

This is a document written in old Ottoman Arabic. The document was originally folded and sealed. This is a commercial letter.  The letter is written in Riqaah script in black. It was signed and dated 1251 AH ( 1835 CE). There is a watermark "Al Masso". According to my research, the paper is from Italian paper mill belongs to Marcos Antonio Portugal operating from 1762 to 1830 CE.

This document is an Ottoman Arabic commercial letter written in a fluent cursive Ruq'ah / Nasta'liq script.

Document Description

• Type: Commercial/Administrative Correspondence Letter.

• Layout: Features a formal invocation at the top, an honorific recipient line, a main body detailing financial accounts and shipments, and ends with a dated signature/seal formula at the bottom. The upper corner contains marginal notes tracking specific cargo or weight details.

• Script & Language: Ottoman Arabic in Ruq'ah script.

English Translation of Front Cover

Header / Officer Name (Top Right):

 عيسى الحارس باب المصلي

"Isa, the Guard at Bab al-Musalla [Musalla Gate]"

Validation Mark (Top Center):

 بختم

"Sealed"

Main Text (Transaction Order / Voucher):

 "من الشركة/الكومبانية يُدفع لبائع الجقاطة (الجاكيتات/الأقمشة) سند باسم محمد شايع [عن طريق] عبدام أفندي البسطوني، المختوم برقم..."

"From the Company, issue to the jacket/textile seller a voucher in the name of Muhammad Shaye' [via] Abdam Efendi al-Bastoni, bearing the seal number..."

English Translation of the Content

Top Header Invocation:

          "هو العزيز" / "عمدة"

"He is the Eternal" ('Umdam / Huwa al-Azīz)

Recipient Honorific Line:

          "جناب حق سيدي شلبي المحترم رمزي أفندي"

"To His Honor, our esteemed and respected brother, Çelebi Muhterem Ramzi Efendi" (Janāb-ı Ḥaqq-ı Sayyidī Çelebi al-Muḥtaram Ramzī Effendī)

Main Letter Body:

          "بعد إهداء جزيل السلام والتحية والاحترام، نعلمكم بأنه قد وصلتنا رسالتكم الكريمة المؤرخة في [13] صفر. وقد سررنا للغاية بالاطمئنان على سلامتكم وصحتكم.

وبخصوص المعاملة التجارية والحسابات المذكورة في كتابكم، فقد قمنا بمراجعة الأرقام والتحقق من الرصيد حسب التعليمات. وأما بشأن الشحنات والدفعات المستحقة، فنؤكد لكم أنه قد تم إنهاء وتسوية كل شيء دون أي تأخير.

وقد استلمنا مبلغ 275 غروش (قرش) بالكامل، بالإضافة إلى الدفعة الإضافية وقدرها 250 غروش. وجميع البضائع والأغراض المرسلة عن طريق الوكيل قد تم تسليمها وتسجيلها حسب الأصول.

تفضلوا بنقل تحياتنا العاطرة إلى جميع الأصدقاء والخلان طرفكم. ودمتم في حفظ الله وسلامه."

"After extended greetings and all due respect, I write to inform you that we received your honorable letter dated [13] Safar. We were deeply pleased to hear of your safety and well-being.

Regarding the business matter and accounts mentioned in your letter, we have reviewed the figures and verified the balance as instructed. Concerning the shipments and payments due, please be assured that everything has been processed without delay.

We have received the amount of 275 Piastres (Guruş) in full, as well as the additional payment of 250 Piastres. All goods and items sent through the agent have been delivered and recorded accordingly.

Please convey our warm regards to all friends and companions on your side. May peace and blessings be with you always."

Date & Closing:

• Dated: 1251 AH (corresponding to 1835–1836 CE)

• Closing: 

         "داعي الأعمال"

        Dā'ī-yi 'A'māl / Sender's mark

My other similar document is in below link

Ottoman Letter 01
Ottoman Letter 02
Ottoman Letter 03
Ottoman Letter 04
Ottoman Letter 05
Ottoman Letter 06
Ottoman Letter 07
Ottoman Letter 08

Ottoman Letter 09

Manuscript Specs

Item : Ottoman document
Content :  Unknown
Dim : 220mm x 160mm
Date : 1267 AH
Copyist : indechiperable
Origin :  Turkey
Calligraphy : Riqaah
Design :
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Coin Review 121 : Rare coin of King of Axum , Armah ( 614-631 CE) or King Najashi who helped Muslims/Prophet Companions first immigration to Abyssinia in 615 CE

This is a coin from the era of king of Axum / Aksum know as Armah or Ashamah Ibn Abjar or Najashi. He ruled Kingdom of Aksum in Abyssinia from 614 - 631 CE.

Obverse

King Najashi seated and crowned holding a long cross. King Armah in Ge'ez

Reverse

Cross framed by 2 stalks of grain. Let there be joy to the people (in Ge'ez)

The kingdom of Axum in a nutshell was an isolated and independent Christian kingdom in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea that survived from the 1st century AD to approx. the 9th century AD. They existed on equal footing with the the empires of the day. Rome, Persia and China. At some point they conquered the Himyarite Confederacy, in what is now Yemen, and absorbed the Sabean culture. They maintained strong ties with the Byzantine Empire until ultimately being cut off from trade by the Arab conquests of the surrounding area, and Axum fell into decline. The Kingdom of Axum is the proposed home of the Ark of the Covenant and the legendary home of the Queen of Sheba. The Axumite Monarchy was established based on a genealogical relationship with the King Solomon of Judea and the Queen of Sheba.

During his reign, the Muslims in Mecca faced severe persecutions by the polythiests and Prophet Muhammad ( PBUH) has allowed his followers to make the first migration to Abyssinia to save their faith and life. This Muslim emigrants were led by Jaafar bin Abu Talib in 615 CE.

When the polythiests from Mecca came to retrieve the Muslims, King Najashi refused to surrender them. 

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) after the Hudaibiyah Treaty in 6 AH ( 628 CE), sent letters to leading kings and rulers of the region inviting them to Islam. Amr bin Umayyah Dhimri was delegated to the court of Habesha. King Najashi received the letter with great honor, touched it with his eyes and read it. He came down from the throne and sat on the ground to show his humbleness and high respect for the Prophet of Allah. Later he asked the letter to be preserved in an ivory casket.

The king wrote back saying”...I testify that you are the Messenger of Allah, true and confirming those before you. I have given my allegiance to you and to your brother (i.e. Jafar) and I have surrendered myself through him to the Lord of the Worlds.”

Muslim emigrants returned with Jafar to Madinah when the Prophet (peace be upon him) conquered Khyber. They thanked King Najashi for his good protection and hospitality provided to them. When King Najashi expired in 631 CE the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered his funeral prayer in absentia, in Madinah. He is buried at a place called Najash in Ethiopia.

Prophet's Letter to Najashi

Najashi Tomb

Date ......... 614-631 CE
Ruler........... King Armah, Najashi
Condition.............. VF
Approx. diameter.............  18 mm
Approx. weight in grams............... 1.55 grams
Material....................bronze
Rarity.......................................scarce
Reference : Munro-Hay Type 153; BMC Aksum 573