Tombstone Of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Ibn Khair al-Ḥajrī, 31 AH / 652 CE

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First Composed: 8th September 2000

Last Modified: 8th December 2005

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Assalamu ʿalaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu:

(a)

(b)

Figure (a): This inscription and (b) its content.

Date

Jumada II, 31 AH / January - February, 652 CE.

Size

38 cm x 71 cm.

Script

Kufic script.

Contents

The translation of the inscription is:

  1. In the name of Allāh, the Merciful, the Compassionate; this tomb
  2. belongs to ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Ibn Khair al-Ḥajrī. O Allāh, forgive him
  3. and make him enter into Thy mercy and make us go with him.
  4. (passer by) When reading this inscription ask pardon for him (the deceased)
  5. and say amīn! This inscription was written
  6. in Jumada II
  7. of the year one and
  8. thirty.

Location

Cairo Museum of Arab Art, Cairo (Egypt).

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References

[1] H. M. El-Hawary, "The Most Ancient Islamic Monument Known Dated AH 31 (AD 652) From The Time Of The Third Calif ‘Uthman", Journal Of The Royal Asiatic Society, 1930, p. 327.

[2] N. Abbott, The Rise Of The North Arabic Script And Its Kur'anic Development, 1939, University of Chicago Press, pp. 18-19.

[3] A. Grohmann, Arabische Paläographie II: Das Schriftwesen. Die Lapidarschrift, 1971, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Philosophisch - Historische Klasse: Denkschriften 94/2. Hermann Böhlaus Nachf.: Wein, p. 71, Plate 10:1.

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