AL-SAHIFA AL-SAJJADIYYA: PRAYERS OF THE FOURTH SHI'A IMAM, ALI IBN HUSAYN ZAYN AL-'ABIDIN
Qajar Iran, 19th century

Arabic manuscript on paper, 136ff., plus four flyleaves, each folio with 12ll. of crisp black ink naskh script, the opening bifolio with gold and polychrome illumination and scrolling marginal motifs, the text grouped in gold cloudbands, full diacritic marks in black, chapter headings in red ink, set within black and gold rules, the endpapers in yellow, in lacquer binding with predominantly red and gold stylised floral motifs, with brown calf spine, the text panel 7.8cm x 4.2cm, the folio 11.7cm x 6.8cm.

Affectionately known as the sister of the Qur’an and even the Injil of the Ahl al-Beyt (the Bible of the family of the Prophet), Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya manuscripts often display great care in their execution, expressing the exaltation of the beloved text across the Shi'a communities.