Images of Mecca en Medina

in Islamic manuscripts
The case of the prayer book of the Moroccan activist and mystic
Muhammad b. Sulayman al-Jazuli (d. 1465) in particular

by Prof. Jan Just Witkam

(University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands)

www.janjustwitkam.nl
www.islamicmanuscripts.info

International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM)

Kulliyyah of Information and Communication Technology (KICT)
Kuala Lumpur, March 12, 2012
Sacred geography.

The Ka’ba in Mecca here

shown as the centre of the
world.
Illustration in a Turkish
manuscript, dated
1060/1650.

Source: MS Leiden, Or. 12.365, f. 90b

Sacred geography.

De Ka‘ba in Mecca, seen

from above, as the centre of
the world, with the
orientation for the believers
for their ritual prayer.

The text around contruction

contains the names of
Islamic countries, regions
and towns..

Manuscript from Istanbul,

dated 960/1553

Source: MS Leiden, Or. 5, f. 37a

Sacred geography.
The Mosque of the Prophet
Muhammad in Medina

Under the cupola the ‘Blessed

Garden’: the graves of the
prophet and his first two
caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar.
Slightly separated:
The grave of Fatima.
At the right: the pulpit
(minbar) of the Prophet, and
also the Mihrab.

Source: al-Lari, Tuhfat al-Haramayn, MS

Leiden Or. 11.079, f. 35b (dated 1012/1603).
The Mosque of the Prophet
Muhammad in Medina

The same iconographical

elements: cupola, graves,
pulpit, palms in an open space.
The space is here filled with
prayer niches.

Painting on paper, as a souvenir

for pilgrims, 12th/18th century

Source: Khalili Collection, Londen, No. 745-2.

The Mosque of the
Prophet Muhammad in
Medina
The same
iconographical
elements: cupola,
graves, pulpit, palms in
an open space.

Visitors’certificate.
Lithography, Medina,
mid-19th century.

Source: Leiden University Library,

in: plano 53 F 1
Graveyard Baqî’ al-Gharqad,
outside Medina.
The graves of members of the
family of the Prophet (also of his
favourite wife ‘A’isha) and many
other saints and believers.
It is a place to be buried, or to
visit and ask for intercession
(shafâ‘a).
Shortly after the Saudi conquest
of Medina (1925) the graveyard
was destroyed.

Source: al-Lari, Tuhfat al-Haramayn, MS Leiden

Or. 11.079, f. 38b (dated 1012/1603).
The Mosque of the Prophet
Muhammad in Medina
The same iconographical elements:
cupola, graves, pulpit, palms in an
open space, but a slightly different
orientation.
From a manuscript from Natal,
West-Sumatra, Indonesia, dated
1229/1814.

Source: Prayer book of Imam Bonjol, MS Leiden

Or. 1751, f. 183a.
Medina and its burial places, here
combined from several
icographical elements.
The palms of van Fatima (above),
a grill (above), the grave of the
Prophet (centre, below), the
graves of the four righteous
caliphs (left, below). At the right
and the centre graves of the
family of the Prophet and other
saints (orang baik).
From a manuscript from Natal,
West-Sumatra, Indonesia, dated
1229/1814.
Source: Prayer book of Imam Bonjol, MS Leiden
Or. 1751, f. 69b.
Beginning of the text of
the Dalá’il al-Khayrat,
the prayer book by al-
Jazûlî.

Here with the title which

is nowadays current in
Morocco: Dalíl.

Manuscript from
Morocco, 18th cent.

Source: MS Leiden, Acad. 32, f. 1b.

Title-page of one of the
numerous printed editions of
al-Jazûlî’s prayer book
Dalá’il al-Khayrát.

Cairo 1333/1914.

Source: Leiden University Library, 830 C 16

Title-page of one of the
numerous printed editions of
al-Jazûlî’s prayer book Dalá’il
al-Khayrát.

Cairo 1369/1949

Source: Leiden University Library, 8108 D 23

Colophon of one of the
numerous printed editions
of al-Jazûlî’s prayer book
Dalá’il al-Khayrát.

Cairo 1354/1935

A lithographical edition
destined for the North
African market.

Source: Leiden University Library,

8195 C 17, pt. 2, p. 24
Title-page of one of the
numerous printed editions of
al-Jazûlî’s prayer book Dalá’il
al-Khayrát.

Here it is part of a much larger

collection of prayers. With a
translation, and numerous
additions, in Urdu.

Lahore, Pakistan 1405/1985

Source: Leiden University Library, 8439 D 6

Cover of one of the
numerous printed editions
of al-Jazûlî’s prayer book
Dalá’il al-Khayrát.

Here with a modern Turkish

translation (in Latin script).
Istanbul 1997.

Source: Private collection_

Cover of one of the
numerous printed editions
of al-Jazûlî’s prayer book
Dalá’il al-Khayrát.
Here with a corrected
Arabic text.

Kudus (Central Java) ca.

2000.

Source: Private collection

Title-page of the Turkish
commentary by Kara Davud of
the Dalá’il al-Khayrát.

Istanbul 1975

Source: Leiden University Library, 8161 C 22

Title-page of the Urdu
translation of the work
Matáli` al-Masarrát, the
authoritative and detailed
commentary by a 17th-
century follower of al-Jazûlî,
Muhammad al-Mahdi al-
Fásí, on the Dalá’il al-
Khayrát.

Lahore, n.d., ca. 2000.

Source: Private collection

Interior of the Mosque of Sidi Ben Slimane al-Jazûlî in
Marrakech. Source: Photograph by Ahmed Ben Smaïl, in: Edmond Amran el
Maleh, Lumière de l’ombre, Rabat 2003.
Collective recital of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât of al-Jazûlî, in
the Mosque of Sidi Abû ’l-‘Abbâs al-Sabtî, Marrakech
(1997). Source: Photograph by Ms. Mariette van Beek, Leiden, No. 2594/26.
Collection Asmâ’ al-Nabî,
the names (epitheta) of the
Prophet Muhammad,
followed by eulogies in the
shape of a tasliya.
This type of prayer has
become wide-spread Dalâ’il
al-Khayrât of al-Jazûlî. The
litany of tasliya is possibly
invented by al-Jazûlî.
Manuscript of Dalâ’il al-
Khayrât, end 18th century,
from Banten, West Java
Source: MS Leiden Or. 7057a, f. 29b
Modern, separate publication
of Asmâ’ al-Nabî, the names
of the Prophet, a booklet from
India.
In the introduction of the
Dalâ’il al-Khayrât al-Jazûlî
sums up his collection of 201
names, which he has brought
together from holy sources,
the Qur’an and the Tradition.
These names are the basic
material for the litanies of
which the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât
mainly consists.

Source: Private collection

Description of the grave
chamber in the Mosque
of the Prophet in
Medina: the ‘blessed
garden’, Al-Rawda al-
Mubaraka.

Manuscript of Dalá’il al-

Khayrat from West
Africa (Mauritania of
Northern Nigeria), 20th
century.

Source: MS Leiden, Or. 25.418, f. 8a

Satchel for the
manuscript of
Dalá’il al-
Khayrat from
West Africa.

(Mauritania or
Northern
Nigeria, early-
20th century)

Source: MS Leiden,
Or. 25.418
Image of the burial chamber
in the Mosque of the Prophet
in Medina, the blessed
garden, al-Rawda al-
Mubaraka, with the graves of
the Prophet Muhammad and
the first two caliphs, Abu
Bakr and Umar.

Manuscript of Dalá’il al-

Khayrat from Morocco, 18th
century.

Source: MS Leiden, Or. 23.723, f. 10b.

The burial
chamber in the
Mosque of the
Prophet in
Medina, with the
three graves.

Manuscript of
Dalá’il al-
Khayrat from
Morocco, 18th
century.

Source: MS Leiden,
Acad. 33, p. 45.
Al-Rawda al-Mubâraka.
The burial chamber in
Medina.
Manuscript of Dalá’il al-
Khayrat, from India,
19th century.
With interlinear
translation in Persian.

Source: MS Leiden, 22.958, ff. 23a

Al-Rawda al-Mubâraka.
The burial chamber in
Medina.
Manuscript of Dalá’il al-
Khayrat, from Banten
(West Java), end 18th
century.

Source: MS Leiden, Or. 7057a, f. 32b.

Al-Rawda al-Mubâraka. The burial chamber in Medina.
Miniature manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat, from Sumatra
(Indonesia), 19th century. Source: Manuscript Deventer?
Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa.
The burial chamber in
Medina.
Modern edition of the
Dalá’il al-Khayrat,
Casablanca 1418/1997.

Source: Private collection

Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa. The burial chamber in Medina (at right),
and the Minbar (pulpit) of the Prophet Muhammad in the
Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.
Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Morocco, 18th century.
Source: MS Leiden, Acad. 32, ff. 22b-23a.
Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa. The burial chamber in Medina (at
right), and the Minbar (pulpit) of the Prophet Muhammad in
the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.
Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Morocco, 19th
century. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 23.263, ff. 21b-22a.
Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa. The burial chamber in Medina (at right), and
the Minbar (pulpit) of the Prophet Muhammad in the Prophet’s
Mosque in Medina. Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Egypt,
18th century. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 11.065, ff. 15b-16a.
Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa. The burial chamber in Medina (at left), and
the Minbar (pulpit) of the Prophet Muhammad in the Prophet’s
Mosque in Medina. Manuscript of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Egypt,
19th century. Illustration made from pasted strips of coloured paper.
Source: MS Leiden, Or. 14.462, ff. 16b-17a.
Al-Rawda al-Sharîfa. The burial chamber in Medina Manuscript
and lithography of Dalá’il al-Khayrat from Istanbul, 1275/1858.
Source: MS Leiden, Or. 12.016, pp. 104-105.
Combined miniature of Al-Rawda al-Mubâraka (left) and the
Minbar, the pulpit of the Prophet in the Mosque of Medina.
Manuscript from Central Asia, late-19th century.
Source: MS in private collection.
Miniature of Al-Rawda al-Mubâraka (right) and the Minbar, the
pulpit of the Prophet in the Mosque of Medina. Manuscript from
South-East Asia, probably 19th century.
Source: MS Kuala Lumpur, National Library of Malaysia, No. 1273.
The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina.
Miniature in a manuscript of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât, from Natal
(West Sumatra), dated 1229/1814.
The prayer book of the famous Imam Bonjol.Source: MS Leiden, Or. 1751, ff. 68b-
The Great Mosque in Mecca.
Image made as a souvenir for
a pilgrim.

Source: Khalili Collection, Londen.

The Great Mosque in
Mecca.
Image made as a souvenir
for a pilgrim.
Iznik tiles, middle of the
16th century

Source: Athene, Benaki Museum, Guide

(2006), p. 156, No. 209.
The Great Mosque in Mecca.
Illustration in al-Nahrâwâli,
al-I‘lâm bi-A‘lâm Bayt Allâh
al-Harâm.
Manuscript from Istanbul,
dated 1005/1596

Source: MS Leiden, Or. 832, f. 88b

The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina.
Miniature in a manuscript of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât, from Istanbul
1254/1838. A luxury book. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 12.455, ff. 15b-16a.
The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina.
Miniature in a manuscript of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât, possibly from
Kashmir or Gujerat. 19th century. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 14.276, ff. 70b-71a.
The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina.
Miniature in a manuscript of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât, possibly from
India. Source: MS Leiden, Or. 22.963, ff. 18b-19a.
The mosques of Mecca (right) and of
Medina.
Illustrations in a recent reprint (Ankara
1421/2000) of a lithographical edition
of the Dalâ’il al-Khayrât (Istanbul,
mid-19th century). Source: Private collection.
The mosques of Mecca (right) and of Medina.
Illustration to Sharaf al-Anâm, an Arabic poem from South-East
Asia. This copy from Kudus (Central Java) ca. 2000. Source: Private collection..