Munajat (Confidential Talks) of 'Ali ibn Abu-Talib

Unknown

ca. 1200 · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; morocco leather binding · Islamic Art

The munajat, or “confidential talks,” of the first Shiite Imam 'Ali b. Abi-Talib take the form of prayers to God. Along with the forty sayings of Imam 'Ali, akin to the hadith, or traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, books of munajat provided doctrinal guidance to medieval Shiites. Although the Seljuqs and their successors had tried to promote Sunni Islam and suppress Shiism, their efforts were neither systematic nor entirely successful, as the existence of this book attests.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1200

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; morocco leather binding

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Louis E. and Theresa S. Seley Purchase Fund for Islamic Art and Rogers Fund, 1995