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 document / Letter ( 1267 AH / 1851 CE)

 

This is a document written in old Turkish. The document was originally folded and sealed. I couldn't figure out what type of document this is. It could be a legal document or a personal ones.  The letter is written in Riqaah script in black. It was signed and dated 1267 AH ( 1851 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.

I don't have much information of this kind of manuscript and its writing tradition. I need to do more research on this manuscript and will update this entry later. I welcome any feedback on this letter.

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