Ghayl Al-Mandaj (Al-Mabrah) Islamic Inscription, 98 AH / 717 CE

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First Composed: 25th March 2014

Last Modified: 12th April 2014

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Assalamu ʿalaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure (a) original inscription, (b) its transcription and (c) its contents.

Date

98 AH / 717 CE.

Size

55 cm x 45 cm.

Script

Kufic script.

Contents

The translation of the inscription is:

  1. May God have mercy
  2. on Thābit ibn
  3. Abī Ṭamīm Ṣānʿa
  4. al-Jarār his family
  5. and others. Ameen, Lord of
  6. the Worlds. And written by
  7. Thābit on Saturday
  8. in the last 10 days left(?) from
  9. in Jumādā (II)
  10. in the year eight and ninety.

Comments

This is an early Islamic rock-inscription found in the vicinity of Ghayl al-Mandaj (al-Mabrah) pilgrim station which is located on the Yemeni highland pilgrim route (so called al-Najdi) which connects Ṣanʿāʾ and Makkah. It is the first dated rock-inscription to be discovered so far alongside that road.

Location

Ghayl al-Mandaj (Saudi Arabia).

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References

[1] M. ʿA. Al-Thenayian, "Ghayl Al-Mandaj [Al-Mabrah] Islamic Inscription, Dated 98 AH (716-717 AD)", Adumatu, 2004, Volume 9, pp. 59-83.

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