Mi'raj, The Night Journey of the Prophet

Unknown

19th century · Ink, gold, silver, and opaque watercolor on paper · Islamic Art

This illustrated folio from the popular religious epic poem, the Hamla-i Haidari, features an episode recounting the mi'raj, or the Prophet Muhammad's celestial night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem. He is shown mounted on the Buraq, a steed with the face of a human, accompanied by angels. Here, 'Ali is shown twice – once as a lion and once as a man holding his bifurcated sword, Du'l fiqar. On the far left of the composition is an image of Moses, who is said to have persuaded the Prophet to reduce the number of daily prayers to five. The Divine Throne crowns the composition while a group of angels circumambulate the Bayt al-Ma'mur, a building akin to the Ka'ba in the heavens.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Ink, gold, silver, and opaque watercolor on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase, 2017 and 2018 NoRuz at The Met Benefit, 2019