abu dervish: Ancient Manuscript Review 128 : Antique Islamic Papyrus Manuscript Prayer / Talismanic Scroll Fragment ( Hirz) ( 9th-10th Century CE )

I purchased this papyrus manuscript from an auction in 2013.It is written in Arabic on paper but the backing is from papyrus.

This object is a papyrus Islamic talismanic/magical scroll fragment (ḥirz or tamīmah) written in Arabic cursive script (transitional Naskh/Kufic).

When intact, this manuscript was rolled or folded tightly into a narrow strip and placed inside a metal or leather protective case worn around the neck or arm. To make or store these scrolls, the papyrus was repeatedly creased, which caused it to fracture linearly into these triangular and radial wedge-like fragments over time.

1. Script & Language

Script: Early-to-medieval Arabic cursive (similar to 9th–12th century Egyptian papyri).
Medium: Papyrus (baradī), placing its origin in Medieval Islamic Egypt (likely Fatimid or Ayyubid period, c. 10th–13th Century CE).

2. Transcription & Translation of Visible Fragments

Talismanic scrolls feature repeated divine names, Quranic verses of protection (Ayat al-Ḥifẓ), and invocations against the evil eye, illness, or spirits.

Top Center Fragment

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... [بِسْمِ اللهِ] الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“[In the name of God], the Compassionate, the Merciful...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...He knows what is before them and what is behind them...”} \\ & \quad \textit{(Fragment of Ayāt al-Kursī / The Throne Verse, Quran 2:255)} \end{aligned}

Bottom Right Sector (Largest Fragment)

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“...There is no god but God...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...And peace be upon whoever follows guidance...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...There is no power nor strength except in God...”} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“...There is no god but God...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...And peace be upon whoever follows guidance...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...There is no power nor strength except in God...”} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“...There is no god but God...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...And peace be upon whoever follows guidance...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...There is no power nor strength except in God...”} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“...There is no god but God...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...And peace be upon whoever follows guidance...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...There is no power nor strength except in God...”} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“...There is no god but God...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...And peace be upon whoever follows guidance...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...There is no power nor strength except in God...”} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“...There is no god but God...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...And peace be upon whoever follows guidance...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...There is no power nor strength except in God...”} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“...There is no god but God...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...And peace be upon whoever follows guidance...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...There is no power nor strength except in God...”} \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} \text{\textbf{Arabic:}} & \quad \text{... لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَىٰ ...} \\ & \quad \text{... لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ ...} \\ \text{\textbf{Translation:}} & \quad \text{“...There is no god but God...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...And peace be upon whoever follows guidance...”} \\ & \quad \text{“...There is no power nor strength except in God...”} \end{aligned}

Comparing this Arabic script from a dated papyrus document from manuscriptevidence.org of 357AH ( 967 CE), they have strikingly similar script. Hence it is safe to estimate this manuscript from 9th- 10th Century CE.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Arabic Amulet / Talismanic Scroll Fragment (Hirz)
Content : Shiite Islamic prayer
Dim : Diameter of 9"
Date : 9th-10th century CE
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : Egypt
Calligraphy :Early Cursive
Design : Written in Arabic scripts in black on paper with backing in papyrus
Purchased Price :US

3 comments:

UnknownMarch 9, 2014 at 3:12 PM
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kristina RichardsonMarch 9, 2014 at 3:13 PM
For information about a 13th-c. mercantilee Egyptian letter folded into an equilateral triangle, then folded again. The relevant pages of her article are Anne Regourd, "Folding of a Paper Document from Quseir al-Qadim: A Method of Archiving?", _Al-'Usur al-wuta_ 20 (2008): 13-16. She argued that the folding meant that the letter/contract was invalidated. Tamar El-Leithy talks about this in his recent "Living Documents, Dying Archives: Towards a Historical Anthropology of Medieval Arabic Archives," _Al-Qantara_ 32.2 (2011): 389-434. I can email you this last article. ... Anyway, I will examine the pictures you've uploaded of the document and let you know if I can decipher any of it.

abu dervish

A journey to search my soul

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Ancient Manuscript Review 128 : Antique Islamic Papyrus Manuscript Prayer / Talismanic Scroll Fragment ( Hirz) ( 9th-10th Century CE )