AN ILLUMINATED HAJJ SCROLL
The Hajj scroll, depicting Mecca and Medina, was presented to Othman Pasha Al-Sadig, the governor of Damascus.
Single scroll formed of 2 membranes, divided into 8 main divisions, comprising: (i) 'Bismillah' opening, formed of large stylised calligraphic script in gold and outlined in black, (ii) another stylised calligraphic section of du'a in gold, with decorations in blue surrounded by red and black flowers, (iii) a decorative section containing text describing the parts of Ka'aba with a panel of text below in thuluth (iv) an illustration of the holy Ka'aba (v) a decorative section containing text describing the sections of Ka'aba with a panel of text below in thuluth, (vi) a detailed illustration of Medina, (vii) the prophet's footprint in outline surrounded by prayers in black naskh, (viii) the colophon and final section naming the pilgrim and dating the document, all outlined in royal blue, some slight surface soiling; with parchment wraparound and leather strap, housed in late nineteenth/century leather tube-case with lid.

This document describes the travels of Othman Pasha Al-Sadiq the honorable Governor of Damascus to the Hajj in 1176 AH, and his return to Damascus in 1177 AH.
Written and gilt by:
Mohammed bin Khalil Al-Ghazi Al-Dimashqi
On the 9th of the month Safar, in 1177 AH.

Few Hajj scrolls are as sophisticated and colourful as the present example, and even fewer are signed and copied in such a competent hand. Where they do exist they are predominantly from large scribal centres such as Mecca or India.

Period: 1177 AH (1763-1764 AD)

Sizes: 104.00 cm. H x 19.00 cm. W
40.94 in. H x 7.48 in. W