A collection of Islamic Seals and Talismans

Footnotes

The inscriptions on these gems are both in kufic and cursive scripts. They mention owners names as well as being benedictory, some with invocations to God. The gems with inscriptions that do not need to be reversed to be read are talismans. This is entirely appropriate given the nature of the inscriptions and the fact that there are prophylacctic properties attributed to some of the gems. For a discussion by Ludvik Kalus, Islamic Jewellery, exhibition catalogue, Spink, 15th April - 9th May 1986, pp. 17-9.

Translations:

3) kufic: "For the greatness of God";
5) kufic: "The sovereignty is God’s, The Sole One, The All-Compelling One";
6) kufic: "May it end well";
7) kufic: The fulfillment of a promise is beautiful and weakness is ugly";
8) archaic cursive: "If someone wants to know who made a bond with me through this small seal of praise, [my reply would be] my weapon is my alliance with Muhammad";
9) kufic: "Muhammad and 'Ali are both my hope";
11) kufic: "Muhammad and 'Ali are both my hope";
12) kufic: "al-Hasan places his trust in God";
13) kufic: "al-Hasan ibn … places his trust in God";
15) kufic: "Muhammad the Messenger of God places his trust in God";
16) kufic: "'Ali ibn Ahmad places his trust in God";
18) Undeciphered;
19) kufic: "In God …";
20) Attributes of God, with the name of the bearer as "His (God’s) servant Ghaybi" and dated AH 1122/ AD 1710-11;
21) "al-Mufaddal ibn Muhammad has trust in God";
22) kufic: "Ahmad ibn Habib honours God";
24) kufic: "He who believes [in God] enjoys safety. Thaqaf";
25) kufic: "Sulayman";
26) kufic: "al-Fadl ibn Salih";
27) kufic: "Muhammad ibn Ahmad";
28) kufic: "Ahmad ibn ‘Aysa";
30) kufic: "al-Husayn ibn ‘Abdullah";
31) kufic: "al-Mahdi ibn Muhammad";
32) kufic: "Dalar ibn Muwaffaq";
33) kufic: "Mas’ud ibn Mahmud";
34) kufic: "Yusif ibn Jayshi (or: Habashi)";
35) kufic: "'Amr ibn al-S…";
36) The names of the 12 Imams;
37) kufic: "Muhammad ibn Hamza ibn Muhammad";
38) kufic: "Ghalk (?) ibn Abu’l-Hayj";
40) kufic: "Bundar ibn Ibrahim";
41) kufic: "Abu'l-Qasim ibn al-Muzaffar";
42) kufic; "Ishaq ibn …";
43) kufic: "Muhammad ibn Musa";
44) Undeciphered;
45) kufic: "Muhammad and 'Ali are both my hope";
46) kufic: The names of the 12 Imams;
47) kufic: "Muhammad ibn Muhammad places his trust in God"
48) in Persian (Ottoman seal, 18th Century) "O God! By the truth of the martyrs of Badr- Hunayn, grant the wishes of 'Ali son of Dede Husayn";
50) cursive, 15th Century, in the centre: "O the Adorned God ! The servant [of yours] Farid ibn Mas'ud"
52) kufic: "Muhammad ibn Abu Sa'id"
53) cursive, 18th/ 19th Century, in Persian : "The divine brother, Zakariya";
54) cursive, 13th Century : "Muhammad ibn ‘Abd.."
57) cursive, in Persian : "O life ! …. I look for good faith";
62) kufic : "Muhammad ibn Abi Bishr ibn Ahmad";
63. magic;
66) positive, undeciphered;
a round bluish seal in cursive (15th Century) "I, Muhammad bin 'Abdullah place my trust in God";
In the margin, in Persian : undeciphered;
a square carnelian (18th Century): Qur’an, Surat al-Baqara (II), 255;
a small round carnelian, in Persian: "May you be in the World as long as the World is, May you be protected from the evils of men";
an oval carnelian, undeciphered;
an oblong white seal with no number, "Ahmad ibn Ja’far places his trust …";
an oblong carnelian with corners cut, kufic: "Ahmad ib Muhammad places his trust in God";
the lead plaque: Invocation to God in the centre and the names of the 4 Orthodox caliphs in the corners.