A TALISMANIC SCROLL, ANDALUSIA, 11TH-12TH CENTURY

Arabic manuscript on paper, written in Maghribi and angular Kufic script in black and red ink.
135 by 15.5 cm.

Surah Al-Ikhlas is written 12 times in angular Kufic script in red ink, as a frame for the entire scroll.
Scroll’s sections:
1.Description of Mecca is honored by Allah (God).
This part includes verses 97-98 from Al Imran’s Surah and part of verse 185 after starting by the name of Allah (God).
2.Verses 3 to 5 from Al- Mulk’s Surah to keep pains and illnesses away.
3.Description of the doomsday, verses 105 to 109 from Taha’s Surah. 4.Verses to enhance safety from Al-Furqan’s Surah 22 to 24. 5.Tongue’s function and its acceptance which includes verses 22 to 26 from Al-Ma’idah’s Surah.
6.Demise of enemies, verses from Al- Nahel’s Surah 10 to 14. 7.Verses to facilitate dystocia, this part includes interpretation of verse 34 from Luqman’s Surah.
8.Verses to praise the prophet, verse 56 from Surah Al- Ahzab.
9.Verse to tranquilize children during their sleep, verses 21 to 27 from Al-Kahf’s Surah.
10.Verses to spread love and relief, and it includes some supplications.
11.Verses to overcome remorse enhanced by the commentary on verse 88 from Hud’s Surah.
12.Supplications for dropsy with the commentary on verse 54 from Al-A’raf’s Surah.
13.Musa and Yahia, this section is marked by a drawing of Musa’s stick snatching the sorcerer’s talismans.
The drawing is surrounded by verses 15 to 85 from Taha’s Surah with the words Mohammad, Taha, and the Star of David on the left side.
There are three decorative drawings in the form of beacons, niches, and domes. The six-pointed star, a familiar symbol in Islamic art, is usually called 'Solomon’s seal'.