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| Keywords: A talisman to ward off evil.jpg en A talisman to ward off evil probably 1700's-1800's Source http //islamicart com//main/calligraphy/catalog/india html downloaded April 2000 Probably India 18th-19th century Ink and gouache on paper stuck on cardboard 10 x 6 1/4 in Riyadh Rifaat Sheikh El-Ard collection Sotheby's 1980 b lot 181 p 86 This talisman written in heavily stylized Kufic script makes a particularly striking and powerful impression Similar to a mihrab in shape it is made up of three separate parts At the top and bottom are triangular and semi-circular panels bearing standard formulae used amongst other things for warding off evil The four central panels contain the Surah LXVIII Al-Qalam The Pen verses 51- 52 And the unbelievers Would almost trip thee up With their eyes when they hear the Message; and they Say Surely he is possessed But it is nothing less Than a Message To all the worlds Although these verses were not often used as a talisman their references to the eyes of evil men madness and possession would seem to render them appropriate The one the unbelievers describe as being mad and possessed is Muhammad himself The Message he was bringing was of course the Qur'an the antithesis of madness and regarded by Muslims as the cure for all evil This probably explains the choice of these two verses as a talisman At least two other versions of this composition are known but this is the only one to have floral decoration Like many talismans this one was probably intended to prevent or even cure a specific evil though it is not clear which one 1700's-1800's http //www columbia edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1800_1899/women/talismans/talismans html author PD-Art Uploaded with UploadWizard Manuscripts | ||||
