Majlis 7 Chapter 2

Kufic Inscriptions

Al - Jame' Al - Anwar

Al Dai al Ajal Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin's RA era witnessed the ihyaaʾ of al Imam Hakim's Jame' al Anwar in accordance with the niyyat of Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA.

An overview of the Kufic inscriptions in the Jame' is presented in the following chapter.

“One of the greatest artistic elements of al Jame’ al Anwar are the Quranic inscriptions done in floriated Kufic script- many of the inscriptions were preserved and many were lost .”

Floriated Kufic Script

Al Jame' al Anwar alone is said to have had twelve thousand feet of Kufic adornment.

In al-Jame’-al-Anwar there are many places where Kufic inscriptions have been replaced or restored.

However, al Dai al Ajal Syedna Muhammad Burhanuddin RA is unprecedented in his efforts to complete all missing inscriptions in a manner that stayed true to the original style.

“Kufic inscriptions feature on all four sides of each of the five bays of the bayt-al-salat to the north and south of the Majāz. The square bases of the three domes and the Majāz wall underneath the windows also carry the Kufic gypsum band of Quranic inscriptions.”

Due to various restorations made in Jame' al Anwar, the Kufic styles differed from time to time.

Some inscriptions date back to the Fatemi period which reflect its originality and authenticity but others consisted of drastic variations which can be identified by the thickness, boldness and curliness of the script.

Colonnades are a row of evenly spaced columns supporting a roof, or arches.

“At the top of the colonnades of the arches of Al Jame’ al Anwar were embellished with a gypsum band of floriated Kufic inscriptions (of al Qura’n al Kareem) which approximately averages to 52cms in width .”

In the year 1416 H/1995 al Dai al Ajal Syedna Muhammad Burhanuddin RA had expressed his desire to embellish the Bait al Salat in the way it was originally adorned; which is 1400m of Quranic inscriptions. It is assumed that the whole Quran was inscribed in Al-Jame’-al-Anwar and He RA, desired to undertake this project as this feat has been achieved in Raudat Tahera. His successor al Dai al Ajal Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS has also expressed his longing for attaining His predecessor’s desire.

(Source: Al -Jami’ Al - Anwar - The Luminous Masjid by Aljamea tus Saifiyah Publications)

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