A SCROLL WITH THE DU'A-YE KUMAIL PRAYER
Qajar Iran, 19th century

Arabic manuscript on paper, the heading decorated with polychrome and gold illumination, the name of the prayer marked in red on a burnished gold oval within a floral cartouche, the text set within concentric blue, black, gold, and red rules, wrapped in a dark brown morocco leather strap with a polychrome brocade ribbon, the leather strap lined in puce paper, the ends edged with crochet silver lace, 329cm x 8cm.

Provenance: Galerie Fischer, Lucerne (CH), 'Persische Manuskripte und Miniaturen' auction, 4 December 1968, lot 1274.

The supplication in the present lot is used to ward off evil and is particularly beloved among Shi'a Muslims, as it is believed it was uttered by Imam 'Ali himself, who taught it to his companion Kumail bin Ziyad.