Ancient Manuscript Review 47 : Etiopian Antique Islamic Manuscript - Minhajul Muslimin

This is an old handwritten manuscript from Etiopia titled Minhajul Muslimin. This manuscript was written in Nasqh script.It was copied probably in 20th century.

Manuscript Specs

Item : A Handwritten Minhajul Muslimin Manuscript
Content : An Islamic Jurisprudence
Dim : 9" x 7" x 1"
Date : 20th century
Copyist : Unknown
Origin : Etiopia
Calligraphy : Nasqh
Design : Text written in Nasqh script on Arabic paper with vowel & diacritical signs in black. 13 lines per page.
Purchased Price :USD

Ancient Manuscript Review 46 : Antique Mughal Sancak - Lithographed Mini Quran ( 1290 AH)

This is a rare lithographed octagonal miniature Quran from India with 631 pages. Originally I posted this entry as an Ottoman Sancak as it was purchased from Turkey and the seller claimed it was Ottoman's product.

However after an inquiry from one of visitors here in regards to the origin of this Quran, I have done more research on this interesting Quran. He has a similar Quran in this website Omanisilver.com Mini Quran
On the colophone page of my Quran here, it was written

قد حصل الفراغ هذا القران المجيد وفرقان الحميد من يد اقل الكتاب محمد جواد في المطبع الحيدرية في سنه ٠ ٩ ٢ ١

"The copying of this Quran Al Majid and Furqan Al Hamid in the hand of Muhammad Jawad produced in Hyderiah Printing House in the year 1290 "

I was not aware of who was this copyist Muhammad Jawad and where was this Printing House identified as Hyderiah.
In the OmaniSilver website, similar Quran was commented by expert from Yale University believing it was a product of Iraq or India.

From a book " Al Quran The Sacred Art of Revelation" published by The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, it has a similar Quran with the same copyist but in a longer name and printed  in 1293 AH publication. See below the snapshot of this book.
The full name of the copyist given as Muhammad Jawad Ibn Mulla Muhammad Musa Kashmiri which I believe the same copyist of the Quran in this entry. The title Kashmiri indicated the copyist originally from Kashmir. The printer house was mentioned as Hyderiah however The IAMM identified it Hyderabad.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Mughal Lithographed Mini Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 2.25" x 2" x 1"
Date : 1290 AH ( 1869 CE)
Copyist :Muhammad Jawad
Origin :  India
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : 15 lines written in Naskh
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Manuscript Review 45 : Antique Malay Arabic Manuscript ( 19th century)

This is a beautifully written manuscript about Arabic grammar originated from South East Asia. Its believed to have been written in 19th century. The unique about this manuscript is the type of calligraphy used. I cant fiqure out. Its has strong character especially in waw , ra and mim similar to Bihari & Sini scripts. However in this script, the mim is vertically down. Or shall we call this script Malay script? The paper used is Daluang type, a popular paper making process in Indonesia.
I acquired this manuscript from a friend in Indonesia quite a while ago.

 Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Malay Arabic Manuscript
Content : Arabic Grammar
Dim : 8" x 6" x 0.5"
Date : 19th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : South East Asia
Calligraphy : Malay ?
Design : Written in Malay scripts in red & black with explanation in Arabic language
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Coin Review 35 : Sultan Muhammad Shah I ( 1837 CE) Terengganu Pitis Coin

This is a rare pitis coin from Sultan Muhammad Shah I era. He became the ruler of Terengganu in 1836CE.

Obv: Malik Al Adil 1253 ( The Just Ruler 1253 AH = 1837 CE)
Rev: Blank
Weight : 0.72 gm
Dim : 19mm
Rarity : RRR
Denom : Pitis
Material : Tin
Reference : SS11 ( Saran's pg 164)

Ancient Manuscript Review 44 : Antique Malay Calligraphy Manuscript ( 19th Century)

This is a beautifully written manuscript about Arabic grammar originated from South East Asia. Its believed to have been written in 19th century. The unique about this manuscript is the type of calligraphy used. I cant fiqure out. Its has strong character especially in waw , ra and mim similar to Bihari & Sini scripts. However in this script, the mim is vertically down. Or shall we call this script Malay script?

I acquired this manuscript from a friend in Indonesia quite a while ago.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Malay Arabic Manuscript
Content : Arabic Grammar
Dim : 15" x 4" x 1"
Date : 19th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : South East Asia
Calligraphy : Malay ?
Design : Written in Malay scripts in red & black with explanation in Arabic language
Purchased Price :US

Book Review 07 : Arabic Calligraphy in Manuscripts - translated by Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

Book Info :

Title : Arabic Calligraphy in Manuscripts
Author : King Faizal Centre for Research & Islamic Studies
Publisher : King Faizal Centre for Research & Islamic Studies
Printer : Saudi Arabian Printing Company Ltd.
Pages : 267 pages
ISBN : N/A

Review:

This is a simple yet an excellent resource for Arabic manuscripts collector as well as calligraphy lovers. I saw this book during my visit in Istanbul and lucky had purchased it. It costed me about 50 Lira.
This book was published for the Arabic Calligraphy exhibiton event taken place in Saudi Arabia in 1987.
This is a helpful resource for me in identifying type of calligraphy. For example this book explains how to tell whether the Nastaliq script is written in Persia or India. Almost every page has a picture of sample manuscript with details of the calligraphy.Indexes on last few pages are also very useful detailing all the names of the authors and also the calligraphers which the manuscripts are referred to in the book. Lastly but not the least, I love the picture at the back cover illustrating a tree with different types of calligraphies. Awesome!!

Below is the comment excerpt from Smitskamp Oriental Antiquarium- Netherlands about this book :

"Important exhibition catalogue, with special emphasis on the various styles of Arabic calligraphy. A special chapter, "The art of Arabic calligraphy and its types", by Fauzî Sâlim "Afîfî is added on pp. 23-60.Displayed on the exhibition were manuscripts from Saudi public and private collections, i.a. from the King Faisal Center, the Dâr al-iftâ", the Imâm Muhammad Ibn Sa"ûd Islamic University, and from the collection of the Farfûr family. Most of these manuscripts have not previously been described in printed publications.The responsibility for the selection of the items, and the description of the manuscripts, lay with the Dutch scholars Q. al-Samarrai and P. Sj. van Koningsveld, with the assistance of A. al-Mashyûkhî. At the end, a select bibliography on Arabic script and calligraphy has been added.This is the English version of the catalogue, which appeared in 1986 in Arabic under the title "al-Khatt al-"arabî min khilâl al-makhtûtât"

Ancient Manuscript Review 43 : Antique Yemeni Mini Quran Manuscript (18th century)

This is a mini handwritten Yemeni Quran acquired from Yemen. It is incomplete as few first & last pages are missing. The Quran was written in a simple Naskh calligraphy. Undated but probably about 200-300 years old.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Yemeni Mini Quran
Content : A Quran
Dim : 2.5" x 1.75" x 2"
Date : 17-18th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : Yemen
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : 21 lines written in Naskh with red diacritical marks
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Manuscript Review 42 : Antique Yemen Mini Islamic Fiqh Manuscript ( 18th century)

This is a mini manuscript from Yemen about Islamic jurisprudence. It is undated however estimated about 200 years old. It is small in size 3.5" x 2"

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Yemen Mini Manuscript
Content : An Islamic Jurisprudence
Dim : 3.5" x 2" x 1.5"
Date : 18th century
Copyist : Anonymouos
Origin : Yemen
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : 14 lines written in Naskh
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Manuscript Review 41 : Antique Ottoman Mini Quran ( 1347 AH)

 

I dont normally collect printed Quran. However I acquired this mini Quran due to its small size. Its a complete Quran dated 1347 AH ( 1928 CE).

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Ottoman Mini Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 1.5" x 1" x 0.75"
Date : 1347 AH ( 1928 CE)
Copyist : indecipherable
Origin : Turkey
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : 12 lines written in Naskh
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Manuscript Review 40 : Antique Yemeni Quran Manuscript ( 986 AH)

This is my first Quran acquired from Yemen. It is incomplete as the first surah Al Fatihah and last few pages missing. The Quran was written in a simple Naskh calligraphy. This Quran has no proper colophone however there is a scribble on the back cover with what appear as year 975 AH ( 1567CE).

I couldn't help to notice that this Quran has a strange drawing on the margin as in picture below. Is this a Talisman?

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Yemeni Quran
Content : A Quran
Dim : 8" x 7" x 2.5"
Date : 986 AH ( 1578 CE)
Copyist : indecipherable
Origin : Yemen
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : 14 lines written in Naskh with red border
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Manuscript Review 39 : Antique Safavid Quran ( 975 AH)

Manuscript Cover

The Shamsah pages

The frontispiece pages

The beginning of Al Baqarah

Surahs in Juz30

The final surah pages

The finishpiece pages

This is the most expensive miniature Quran I ever acquired. Its a Safavid handwritten Quran with beautiful gold illuminations especially on the first 5 pages & last 4 pages. This Quran was written in 975 AH ( 1567 CE) during Safavid rule in Iran. This Quran is also small in size.
Design & Style :
The first 2 pages are decorated with Shamsah medallions and the subsequent 2 pages are called frontispiece pages decorated with carpet design.
Lets look at the history of this unique design. According to a book " Quran Manuscripts Calligraphy, Illuminaiton, Design" by Colin F. Baker, this design was created during the rule of Safavid in the 16th century in Persia & Iraq.
The name of this medallion in Arabic is Shamsah ( sun), because the its shape & illumination resemble the sun and its brightness. This Shamsah design is pretty consistent with some of 16th century manuscripts from the catalog " Treasures of the illustrated & illuminated Persian Manuscripts of National library of Egypt)
As for the  frontispiece pages which has the carpet design, they contains the whole chapter one ( AlFatihah).
Almost all the pages in this Quran are decorated with few floral design in the margin. This marginal design acts as a verse marker. The Safavid marginal designs were mostly filled with intricate flower motifs. ( from the book AL Quran The Sacred Art of Revelation)


Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Safavid Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 5.5" x 3.5" x 2"
Date : 975 AH ( 1567 CE)
Copyist : indecipherable
Origin : Iran / Afghanistan
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : 16 lines written in Naskh with gold border and colorful flowers in margin.
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Manuscript Review 38 : Antique Ottoman Quran in 30 books ( 1270AH)

This is a complete 30 juz of Quran in 30 books. Written in 1270 AH. Purchased from Istanbul in 2011.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Ottoman Quran
Content : A complete 30 juz of Quran
Dim : 9" x 6" x 0.3"
Date : 1270 AH ( 1852 CE)
Copyist : AsSaid Muhammad Zuhdi
Origin : Turkey
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : 11 lines
Purchased Price :USD

Antique Coin Review 34 : Umayyad Coin - Governor Ubaydallah ibn Ziyad - Caliph Muawiya Abi Sufyan( 60AH)

Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad (Arabic: عبيد الله بن زياد‎) was a son of Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan after whose death in 673 he became the Governor of Kufa and Basra and later Khurasan.He also minted coinage, which survives to this day. In 674 he would cross the Amu Darya and defeat the forces of Bukhar Khuda of Bukhara what would become the first known invasion of the city by Muslim Arabs.
The coin is minted during the era Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan ( 41-60AH : 661-680 AD) under governor Ubayd Allah Bin Ziyad ( 55-64AH : 674-683AD)
Struck in Dasht Maysan year 60 AH

Coin Specs

Item : Dirham of Caliph Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan ( struck on Khosro Coin)
Obv :A crowned bust imitating Khusrou II the Sasanian king
         All legends are written in Pahlavi except the Arabic written بسم الله lower right on margin
         The word on the left is GDH 'pzwt = may his splendor increase
         The words on the right is AWBYTALA/Y ZAYATAN  = Ubayd Allah bin Ziyad
Rev : Fire altar with 2 attendants. Legends in Pahlavi
          The word on the left is SYWN = 60        
          The word on the right is  DSh = Dasht Maysan
Date : 60 AH (679 CE)
Dim : 25 mm
Weight : 2.12gm
Denom : Dirham
Metal : AR
Mint : Dasht Maysan
Rarity : R
Purchased Price : USD

The history of Ubaydallah ibn Ziyad can be seen below excerpted from Wikipedia:

Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad (Arabic: عبيد الله بن زياد‎) was a son of Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan after whose death in 673 he became the Governor of Kufa and Basra and later Khurasan.He also minted coinage, which survives to this day. In 674 he would cross the Amu Darya and defeat the forces of Bukhar Khuda of Bukhara what would become the first known invasion of the city by Muslim Arabs.

In 680, Yazid I ordered Ubayd Allah to keep order in Kufa as a reaction to grandson of Prophet, Husayn ibn Ali's popularity there. Ubayd Allah appointed his brother Uthman as deputy and marched to Kufa. Ubayd Allah executed Hussain ibn Ali’s cousin Muslim ibn Aqeel and put out the right eye of Hussain ibn Ali’s supporter Al-Mukhtar. He was also one of the leaders of the army of Yazid I during the battle of Karbala.

Yazid left a vacuum in Iraq upon his death in 683. Ubayd Allah abdicated the governor's mansion in Basra and took up shelter with Mas'ud ibn Amr al-Azdi. The Azd were a Yemenite tribe who then supported the Umayyads against the rebellion of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr. But Basra's new governor Abd Allah ibn al-Harith sided with Ibn al-Zubayr, and had Mas'ud killed the following spring; some traditions add, probably accurately, that Ubayd Allah and Mas'ud had complained about Ibn al-Harith's corruption (again, probably accurately - but the Basrans did not then care) with a view to regaining for Ubayd Allah his command. Ubayd Allah fled the city for Syria - leaving his wife and family behind. (Madelung pp. 301–303)

While Ubayd Allah was in Syria, he persuaded Marwan ibn al-Hakam not to recognise Ibn al-Zubayr. Meanwhile the messianic rebel Al-Mukhtar wrested Kufa from Ibn al-Zubayr in 685. Seeing his chance, or so he thought, Ubayd Allah sent an army against Mukhtar. According to contemporary historian John bar Penkaye, Mukhtar met [Ubayd Allah] Ibn Ziyad's legions with a militia composed of 13,000 lightly armed freedmen on foot at the river Khazir near Nineveh. Ubayd Allah died in that battle. (Brock pp. 65–6)