A composite text containing excerpts from the Miraj Nameh,

£27,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

illustrating tales of The Prophet and imams This is a very attractively illuminated manuscript containing verses and excerpts from the Miraj Nameh (by Mir Haydar) along with other texts relaying Islamic stories about the Prophet and other Imams, possibly including the Khavaran Nameh. There are many sections of the text relating to Imam Ali (AS), a notable theme drawn from the Khavaran Name by Ibn Hossam Khosefi, which is an epic account of the life of the commander of the faithful Imam Ali (AS), while also drawing on the themes from the Miraj Nameh which tells of the miraculous 'isra' and 'miraj' of the night journey of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Both these texts are rare, and an adaptation of them in verse is equally unusual. This manuscript is extensively decorated throughout with colourful banners between the columns of text, the opening marginal designs are exquisitely intricate, and there are also 20 illuminated miniatures in the text. These miniatures frequently depicting either Imams of the Prophet, including a heavenly scene, many including angels, battles and meetings of dignitaries. The style of the illustrations is very much in line with the Kashmiri school, and many of the images use silver as well as gold in their illumination. Single volume, fine illuminated manuscript on paper, in Arabic and Farsi, with 15 illuminated miniatures in the text, 283 leaves, incomplete at the end (likely lacking only one or two gatherings), 268 x 154 mm; four columns, 22 lines bla

• Binding: Hardcover

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