Images of Mecca en Medina in Islamic manuscripts

The case of the prayer book of the Moroccan activist and mystic

Muhammad b. Sulayman al-Jazuli (d. 1465) in particular

by Prof. Jan Just Witkam (University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands)

www.janjustwitkam.nl

www.islamicmanuscripts.info

International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) Kulliyyah of Information and Communication Technology (KICT)

Kuala Lumpur, March 12, 2012

Sacred geography. The Ka’ba in Mecca here shown as the centre of the world.

Illustration in a Turkish manuscript, dated 1060/1650. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 12.365, f. 90b

Sacred geography. De Ka‘ba in Mecca, seen from above, as the centre of the world, with the orientation for the believers for their ritual prayer. The text around contruction contains the names of Islamic countries, regions and towns.. Manuscript from Istanbul, dated 960/1553 Source: MS Leiden, Or. 5, f. 37a

Sacred geography. The Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad in Medina Under the cupola the ‘Blessed Garden’: the graves of the prophet and his first two caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar. Slightly separated: The grave of Fatima. At the right: the pulpit (minbar) of the Prophet, and also the Mihrab. Source: al-Lari, Tuhfat al-Haramayn, MS Leiden Or. 11.079, f. 35b (dated 1012/1603).

The Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad in Medina The same iconographical elements: cupola, graves, pulpit, palms in an open space. The space is here filled with prayer niches. Painting on paper, as a souvenir for pilgrims, 12th/18th century Source: Khalili Collection, Londen, No. 745-2.

The Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad in Medina The same iconographical elements: cupola, graves, pulpit, palms in an open space.

Visitors’certificate.

Lithography, Medina, mid-19th century.

Source: Leiden University Library, in: plano 53 F 1

Graveyard Baqî’ al-Gharqad, outside Medina.

The graves of members of the family of the Prophet (also of his favourite wife ‘A’isha) and many other saints and believers.

It is a place to be buried, or to visit and ask for intercession (shafâ‘a).

Shortly after the Saudi conquest of Medina (1925) the graveyard was destroyed. Source: al-Lari, Tuhfat al-Haramayn, MS Leiden Or. 11.079, f. 38b (dated 1012/1603).

The Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad in Medina The same iconographical elements: cupola, graves, pulpit, palms in an open space, but a slightly different orientation.

From a manuscript from Natal, West-Sumatra, Indonesia, dated 1229/1814. Source: Prayer book of Imam Bonjol, MS Leiden Or. 1751, f. 183a.

Medina and its burial places, here combined from several icographical elements.

The palms of van Fatima (above), a grill (above), the grave of the Prophet (centre, below), the graves of the four righteous caliphs (left, below). At the right and the centre graves of the family of the Prophet and other saints (orang baik).

From a manuscript from Natal, West-Sumatra, Indonesia, dated 1229/1814. Source: Prayer book of Imam Bonjol, MS Leiden Or. 1751, f. 69b.

Beginning of the text of the Dalá’il al-Khayrat, the prayer book by al-Jazûlî. Here with the title which is nowadays current in Morocco: Dalíl. Manuscript from Morocco, 18th cent. Source: MS Leiden, Acad. 32, f. 1b.

Title-page of one of the numerous printed editions of al-Jazûlî’s prayer book Dalá’il al-Khayrát. Cairo 1333/1914. Source: Leiden University Library, 830 C 16

Title-page of one of the numerous printed editions of al-Jazûlî’s prayer book Dalá’il al-Khayrát.

Cairo 1369/1949

Source: Leiden University Library, 8108 D 23

Colophon of one of the numerous printed editions of al-Jazûlî’s prayer book Dalá’il al-Khayrát.

Cairo 1354/1935

A lithographical edition destined for the North African market.

Source: Leiden University Library,

8195 C 17, pt. 2, p. 24

Title-page of one of the numerous printed editions of al-Jazûlî’s prayer book Dalá’il al-Khayrát. Here it is part of a much larger collection of prayers. With a translation, and numerous additions, in Urdu. Lahore, Pakistan 1405/1985 Source: Leiden University Library, 8439 D 6

Cover of one of the numerous printed editions of al-Jazûlî’s prayer book Dalá’il al-Khayrát.

Here with a modern Turkish translation (in Latin script).

Istanbul 1997.

Source: Private collection_

Cover of one of the numerous printed editions of al-Jazûlî’s prayer book Dalá’il al-Khayrát.

Here with a corrected Arabic text.

Kudus (Central Java) ca. 2000.

Source: Private collection

Title-page of the Turkish commentary by Kara Davud of the Dalá’il al-Khayrát. Istanbul 1975

Source: Leiden University Library, 8161 C 22

Title-page of the Urdu translation of the work Matáli` al-Masarrát, the authoritative and detailed commentary by a 17th-century follower of al-Jazûlî, Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Fásí, on the Dalá’il al-Khayrát. Lahore, n.d., ca. 2000. Source: Private collection

Interior of the Mosque of Sidi Ben Slimane al-Jazûlî in Marrakech. Source: Photograph by Ahmed Ben Smaïl, in: Edmond Amran el Maleh, Lumière de l’ombre, Rabat 2003.

Collective recital of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât of al-Jazûlî, in the Mosque of Sidi Abû ’l-‘Abbâs al-Sabtî, Marrakech (1997). Source: Photograph by Ms. Mariette van Beek, Leiden, No. 2594/26.

Collection Asmâ’ al-Nabî, the names (epitheta) of the Prophet Muhammad, followed by eulogies in the shape of a tasliya.

This type of prayer has become wide-spread Dalâ’il al-Khayrât of al-Jazûlî. The litany of tasliya is possibly invented by al-Jazûlî.

Manuscript of Dalâ’il al-Khayrât, end 18th century, from Banten, West Java Source: MS Leiden Or. 7057a, f. 29b

Modern, separate publication of Asmâ’ al-Nabî, the names of the Prophet, a booklet from India.

In the introduction of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât al-Jazûlî sums up his collection of 201 names, which he has brought together from holy sources, the Qur’an and the Tradition. These names are the basic material for the litanies of which the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât mainly consists.

Source: Private collection

Description of the grave chamber in the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina: the ‘blessed garden’, Al-Rawda al-Mubaraka. Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from West Africa (Mauritania of Northern Nigeria), 20th century. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 25.418, f. 8a

Satchel for the manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from West Africa. (Mauritania or Northern Nigeria, early-20th century) Source: MS Leiden, Or. 25.418

Image of the burial chamber in the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, the blessed garden, al-Rawda al-Mubaraka, with the graves of the Prophet Muhammad and the first two caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar.

Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Morocco, 18th century.

Source: MS Leiden, Or. 23.723, f. 10b.

The burial chamber in the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, with the three graves.

Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Morocco, 18th century.

Source: MS Leiden,

Acad. 33, p. 45.

Al-Rawda al-Mubâraka.

The burial chamber in Medina.

Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat, from India, 19th century.

With interlinear translation in Persian.

Source: MS Leiden, 22.958, ff. 23a

Al-Rawda al-Mubâraka.

The burial chamber in Medina.

Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat, from Banten (West Java), end 18th century. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 7057a, f. 32b.

Al-Rawda al-Mubâraka. The burial chamber in Medina.

Miniature manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat, from Sumatra (Indonesia), 19th century. Source: Manuscript Deventer?

Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa.

The burial chamber in Medina.

Modern edition of the Dalá’il al-Khayrat, Casablanca 1418/1997.

Source: Private collection

Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa. The burial chamber in Medina (at right), and the Minbar (pulpit) of the Prophet Muhammad in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.

Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Morocco, 18th century. Source: MS Leiden, Acad. 32, ff. 22b-23a.

Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa. The burial chamber in Medina (at right), and the Minbar (pulpit) of the Prophet Muhammad in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.

Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Morocco, 19th century. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 23.263, ff. 21b-22a.

Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa. The burial chamber in Medina (at right), and the Minbar (pulpit) of the Prophet Muhammad in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Egypt, 18th century. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 11.065, ff. 15b-16a.

Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa. The burial chamber in Medina (at left), and the Minbar (pulpit) of the Prophet Muhammad in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Egypt, 19th century. Illustration made from pasted strips of coloured paper. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 14.462, ff. 16b-17a.

Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa. The burial chamber in Medina Manuscript and lithography of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Istanbul, 1275/1858. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 12.016, pp. 104-105.

Combined miniature of Al-Rawda al-Mubâraka (left) and the Minbar, the pulpit of the Prophet in the Mosque of Medina. Manuscript from Central Asia, late-19th century. Source: MS in private collection.

Miniature of Al-Rawda al-Mubâraka (right) and the Minbar, the pulpit of the Prophet in the Mosque of Medina. Manuscript from South-East Asia, probably 19th century. Source: MS Kuala Lumpur, National Library of Malaysia, No. 1273.

The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina. Miniature in a manuscript of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât, from Natal (West Sumatra), dated 1229/1814. The prayer book of the famous Imam Bonjol.Source: MS Leiden, Or. 1751, ff. 68b-69a

The Great Mosque in Mecca.

Image made as a souvenir for a pilgrim.

Source: Khalili Collection, Londen.

The Great Mosque in Mecca.

Image made as a souvenir for a pilgrim.

Iznik tiles, middle of the 16th century

Source: Athene, Benaki Museum, Guide (2006), p. 156, No. 209.

The Great Mosque in Mecca.

Illustration in al-Nahrâwâli, al-I‘lâm bi-A‘lâm Bayt Allâh al-Harâm.

Manuscript from Istanbul, dated 1005/1596

Source: MS Leiden, Or. 832, f. 88b

The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina. Miniature in a manuscript of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât, from Istanbul 1254/1838. A luxury book. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 12.455, ff. 15b-16a.

The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina. Miniature in a manuscript of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât, possibly from Kashmir or Gujerat. 19th century. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 14.276, ff. 70b-71a.

The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina. Miniature in a manuscript of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât, possibly from India. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 22.963, ff. 18b-19a.

The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina. Illustrations in a recent reprint (Ankara 1421/2000) of a lithographical edition of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât (Istanbul, mid-19th century). Source: Private collection.

The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina. Illustration to Sharaf al-Anâm, an Arabic poem from South-East Asia. This copy from Kudus (Central Java) ca. 2000. Source: Private collection..