Lot 212 AN ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT, MUHAMMAD BIN SA'ID AL-BUSIRI (D. 1296), QASIDA AL-BURDA (THE POEM OF THE MANTLE'), LATE 18TH/ EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Arabic manuscript on paper, comprising 24 folios and four fly-leaves, each page arranged in seven lines of elegant black Thuluth script, set within cloud-shaped reserves against a sprinkled gilt ground and framed by double gilt borders. The text is further enclosed within finely ruled gold and blue borders. The Arabic text is accompanied by interlinear Persian translation in red Nastaʿliq script, with extensive marginal annotations in red ink. The opening page is adorned with a finely executed gilt and polychrome headpiece. Housed in a deep red leather binding, embossed with floral motifs. Text: 7 × 13 cm Panel: 13 × 18.5 cm

The celebrated Qasida al-Burda (The Poem of the Mantle) by Imam al-Busiri (d. c. 1296), one of the most renowned works of devotional poetry in praise of the Prophet Muhammad. Comprising ten chapters and 160 verses, the poem is distinguished by its recurring refrain invoking blessings and peace upon the Prophet, while each verse concludes with the Arabic letter mīm, giving the poem its characteristic Mīmiyya form.