THE MI'RAJ (THE ASCENT OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD TO HEAVEN)
Possibly Bijapur or Hyderabad, Deccan, Central India, 18th century

Opaque pigments and gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting the crucial moment of the Mi'raj (Ascension to Heaven) in the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey, Muhammad portrayed with a large golden halo, riding the traditional heavenly mount of the monotheistic Prophets, Buraq, a mythical winged horse-like creature with a human face, holding a prayer book in his right hand and the reins in the latter, ushered into the heavenly realm by a red-dressed winged angel holding an encrusted club, three further angels under the starry night sky at the top of the composition showering the Prophet and Buraq with gold rays, the attire of the Prophet reminiscent of Indian Sultans featuring a long green tunic, Persian-style riding boots, and a refined and multi-folded green turban ornate with a black heron feather aigrette with pearls, the scene set on a dark blue cardboard mount, framed and glazed, 33cm x 29cm excluding the outer frame.

The Mi'raj (also known as al-’Isrā’ wal-Miʿrāj) is a physical and spiritual journey that Prophet Muhammad is believed to have completed during a single night in 621. The journey leads the Prophet first from Mecca to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem (Isra'), and then straight into Heaven (Mi'raj), where Muhammad is greeted by the other Prophets recognised in the Muslim faith. Towards the end of the journey, he is also believed to have met and directly spoken to God, who gave him specific instructions and details on how Muslims should perform their prayers.

It is worth noting that the style of the encrusted headdresses that all heavenly subjects (both the angels and Buraq) are wearing denotes a strong influence from Persia, or even the broader Persianate world, departing from the ornate and bejewelled turbans typical of India and of the Mughal dynasty. The style, indeed, is much closer to Timurid helmets and headgears, often enhanced by either straight or staggered golden bands around the headline and hemispherical dome-like caps at the top.

Dimensions: 33cm x 29cm excluding the outer frame