Amuletsthe gallery← amulets.guru
Islamic World · c. 700 – today

Talismanic scrolls & sheets

Meaning

Talismanic scrolls and sheets hold the whole protective system of the word in minute script: Qur'anic verses, especially the Throne Verse and Sura Ya-Sin, the Names of God, prayers, magic squares (wafq), letter-number tables, the Seal of Solomon, and names of angels and jinn.

Intent

They were folded into cases or carried rolled, for protection and success, sometimes made for a named person and purpose. Block-printed versions from medieval Egypt were sold to many buyers.

Significance

They show a sophisticated science of letters ('ilm al-huruf) and numbers, systematised by al-Buni. Medieval block-printed amulets (tarsh) from Egypt are among the earliest printing in the Islamic world.

History

Printed amulets date from the 10th–14th centuries in Fatimid and Mamluk Egypt. Hand-written scrolls, some several metres long, are known from the 15th century onward in Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal lands.

Making yours
Paper or vellum 5–10 cm wide by up to several metres long, or 20×30 cm sheets. Ink in naskh or ghubar script with red and gold rubrication.
Islamic World: the tradition

Islamic theology distinguishes forbidden amulets (tama'im, charms trusted in themselves) from permitted protection by God's word, so the characteristic Islamic amulet is textual: Qur'anic verses, especially the Throne Verse (2:255) and the last two suras, the Mu'awwidhatayn, along with the Ninety-Nine Names of God, magic squares (wafq) and the Seal of Solomon. Scholars such as al-Buni (d. 1225) wrote manuals of letter and number magic. The hand of Fatima and the blue eye bead came from pre-Islamic Mediterranean practice and remained hugely popular. Talismanic art reached a peak at the Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal courts in shirts, armour, bowls and seals.

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The king places the talisman on his sleeping wife, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fiftieth NightThe king places the talisman on his sleeping wife, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fiftieth NightMughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) · c. 1560Rock crystal sphere with talismanic inscriptions in Arabic, including some in 'linear Kufic' script, Middle EaRock crystal sphere with talismanic inscriptions in Arabic, including some in 'linear Kufic' script, Middle Ea10th century-16th centuryinscription in Arabic; Persian 16th/17th cent A flat tear drop-shaped tablet of semi-opaque, off white agate; inscription in Arabic; Persian 16th/17th cent A flat tear drop-shaped tablet of semi-opaque, off white agate; Iran · 1800-1870TalismanhemdTalismanhemdNetherlands · 0Belt with container and talismanBelt with container and talismanAustria · 1892Engraved title page for The Talisman by S. Sangster after J.W. GordonEngraved title page for The Talisman by S. Sangster after J.W. GordonUnited Kingdom · 1832Talismanic ScrollTalismanic Scroll11 th century date QS:P571,+1050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Ovaler Talisman mit arabischer SchriftOvaler Talisman mit arabischer SchriftAustriaEin Talisman aus KichererbsenEin Talisman aus KichererbsenTurkeyTalisman from SudanTalisman from SudanSudanAmulett (Talisman)Amulett (Talisman)MoroccoAmulett (Talisman)Amulett (Talisman)TurkeyFragment of talisman used to exorcise the sick, Assyrian eraFragment of talisman used to exorcise the sick, Assyrian eraUnited KingdomAnother traditional prescription - magic diagramsAnother traditional prescription - magic diagramsMoroccoKhalili Collection Islamic Art tls 0051.2Khalili Collection Islamic Art tls 0051.2IndiaKhalili Collection Islamic Art tls 1855Khalili Collection Islamic Art tls 1855IranGen Con Indy 2007 exhibit hall - board game (Talisman) demoGen Con Indy 2007 exhibit hall - board game (Talisman) demoRound brass plaqueRound brass plaqueTalismanic ScrollTalismanic Scroll11 th century date QS:P571,+1050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Ovaler Talisman mit arabischer SchriftOvaler Talisman mit arabischer SchriftAustriaHandwritten magic diagrams and textHandwritten magic diagrams and textMoroccoKhalili Collection Islamic Art tls 0051.1Khalili Collection Islamic Art tls 0051.1IndiaKhalili Collection Islamic Art tls 1966Khalili Collection Islamic Art tls 1966IranBlock-printed Talismanic Circular LeafBlock-printed Talismanic Circular Leaf11 th century date QS:P571,+1050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Traditional prescription - diabetesTraditional prescription - diabetesMoroccoFragment from a Talismanic ScrollFragment from a Talismanic Scroll11th–12th centuryAnother handwriting - magicAnother handwriting - magicMoroccoTalismanic ScrollTalismanic Scroll11th–12th centuryHandwriting - magic - pages 10 andHandwriting - magic - pages 10 andMoroccoShi'i talismanic pieceShi'i talismanic piece19 th century date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Religious text for magicReligious text for magicMoroccoTalisman-E 10943-IMG 0616Talisman-E 10943-IMG 0616Traditional prescription - religiousTraditional prescription - religiousMoroccoTalisman Louvre MAO905Talisman Louvre MAO90519 th century date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Handwriting - magic - pages 9 andHandwriting - magic - pages 9 andMoroccoFragment from a Talismanic ScrollFragment from a Talismanic Scroll11th–12th centuryTraditional prescriptionTraditional prescriptionMoroccoIskandar on the island near the ʻLionʼs Mouthʼ whirlpool beating the wolfskin drum of the bronze talisman in order to still the watersIskandar on the island near the ʻLionʼs Mouthʼ whirlpool beating the wolfskin drum of the bronze talisman in order to still the watersمخطوط دواء التلالمخطوط دواء التلالMoroccoTalismanic ScrollTalismanic Scroll11 th century date QS:P571,+1050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Handwriting - magicHandwriting - magicMoroccoFragment of a Talismanic ScrollFragment of a Talismanic Scroll11th–12th centuryThe Talisman of Nahavand: Water Pouring out of the Mouths of a Cow and a FishThe Talisman of Nahavand: Water Pouring out of the Mouths of a Cow and a Fish1717 AD (1121 AH ) ( Ottoman Empire era QS:P2348,Q12560 )T-Hawk Micro Air Vehicle Part of the Talisman Suite of Vehicles MODT-Hawk Micro Air Vehicle Part of the Talisman Suite of Vehicles MODVôgno (talisman antakarana)Vôgno (talisman antakarana)Talismanic cap with Quaranic inscriptionTalismanic cap with Quaranic inscription19th centuryTalismanic prayer scrollTalismanic prayer scroll16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Talismanic prayer scrollTalismanic prayer scroll16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Talismanic prayer scrollTalismanic prayer scroll16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Talismanic prayer scrollTalismanic prayer scroll16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Talismanic prayer scrollTalismanic prayer scroll16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Talismanic prayer scrollTalismanic prayer scroll16 th century date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Shi'i stamped amuletShi'i stamped amulet19 th century date QS:P,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Fragment of a Talismanic ScrollFragment of a Talismanic Scroll11th–12th centuryTalismanic ScrollTalismanic Scroll11 th century date QS:P571,+1050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Block-printed Talismanic Circular LeafBlock-printed Talismanic Circular Leaf11 th century date QS:P571,+1050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Talisman on papyrus label QS:Lfr,"Talisman sur papyrus" label QS:Len,"Talisman on papyrus"Talisman on papyrus label QS:Lfr,"Talisman sur papyrus" label QS:Len,"Talisman on papyrus"between 1186 and 1069 BC date QS:P,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1186-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1069-00-00T00:00:00Z/9A Persian manuscript on talismansA Persian manuscript on talismansCOLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Strook papier met Koranspreuken in het Arabisch-Maleisch gebruikt als talisman TMnr A-3847COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Strook papier met Koranspreuken in het Arabisch-Maleisch gebruikt als talisman TMnr A-3847Fragment of talisman used to exorcise the sick, Assyrian eraFragment of talisman used to exorcise the sick, Assyrian era

More from Islamic World: Khamsa / Hand of Fatima · Nazar evil-eye beads · Qur’an & amulet cases (hirz, ta’wiz) · Talismanic shirts & textiles · Talismanic seals & engraved stones · Maghreb & Tuareg silver · Other & unsorted Islamic World
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