An illuminated talismanic scroll containing one of the earliest complete copies of al-Busiri's al-burdah, a poem in praise of the Prophet Muhammad, Egypt or Persia, Mamluk or Ilkhanid, end of 13th/early 14th century

Arabic manuscript on paper, laid down on cloth in scroll form, the text written within alternating cartouches and roundels in naskh script in black and red ink, titles written in thuluth script in white (now oxidized) or gold, decorated with gilt floral and vegetal motifs, eight diagrams containing letters, words or numbers

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This extremely rare and early talismanic scroll was most probably commissioned by a high ranking official such as a royal or military person to be carried close to the body in battle for protection against the enemy. This is confirmed by the drawings of the sword, spear and bow and arrow which would have been worn and used by such a person during military campaigns. The illumination of the present scroll is very similar indeed to Mamluk Qur'an illumination of the same period. However, the way the numbers '4' and '5' are written suggest a possible Persian provenance. The scroll must have been produced after the death of al-Busiri around 1294-96 AD, since he is given the title of marhum (deceased, late) at the beginning of the poem. The texts included in this scroll are as follows:

Two prayers incorporated within an illuminated cartouche and roundel.
Al-asma' al-husna, the Beautiful Names of God or the divine names or epithets of God which are usually ninety-nine in number.
Du'a, a prayer.
Hirz al-amani,  an amulet or talisman for protection.
Du'a 'azim jalil, a prayer.
Du'a mubarak sharif, a prayer with a diagram of nine squares each containing a number.
There follows seven haykals (structures or temples) each containing a prayer, one for each day of the week.
Hijab sharif 'azim, amulet or talisman of protection with a diagram composed of thirty-six squares containing words which make up the verse, "there is no fear for the holy men of God". The diagram is surrounded by numbers on three sides.
A prayer against the enemy (al-'adu) with drawings of a sword, spear and bow and arrow.
A prayer in relation to Kings (al-muluk) with a diagram containing letters.
A prayer to revoke or invalidate spells (li-ibtal al-sihr) with a diagram containing letters.
A prayer invoking the protection of youth (al-shubban) with a diagram containing letters.
A prayer for healing (shifa') with a diagram containing numbers.
A prayer for the increase of wealth (al-rizq) and prosperity (al-barakah).
A prayer related to freeing from prisons (al-sujun) with a diagram containing words.
Hirz 'azim, an amulet or talisman for protection with a diagram containing letters.
A prayer for the deliverance of pregnant women with a diagram containing letters and surrounded by numbers.
Al-kawakib al-durriyah fi madhi khayr al-barriyah, Glittering Stars: In Praise of the Best of Creatures, commonly known as al-Burdah, The Mantle. The work is a famous poem of praise in the Prophet Muhammad composed by Sharaf al-Din Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Sa'id al-Daulasi al-Busiri who imitated the Qasidah of Ka'b bin Zuhair. The author, al-Busiri died in 694 AH/1294-95 AD which makes this copy one of the earliest of the work, probably written within fifty years of the author's death. The poem is written in its complete form with 162 verses (bayt).

Another early copy of the poem copied by the scribe Yusuf al-Sara'I at Cairo, dated 16 Sha'ban 707 AH/10 February 1308 AD is in the Chester Beatty Library, see A.J. Arberry, A Handlist of the Arabic Manuscripts, volume V, Dublin, 1962, p.58, no.4178. A further scroll with the same outer bands containing surat al-Ikhlas, and the seven haykals, produced in Mamluk Egypt in the fifteenth century, was sold at Sotheby's, 13 October 1980, lot 92.