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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

We could really use some ease right now.

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

This is either pseudo-Kufic or it’s a script I’ve never seen before and can’t read

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

2/ You can follow me on twitter at the handle @islam_texts. I still post there too. I’ll be restarting my newsletter soon and will let you know when it’s updated iA. Hope you all are well and staying warm ✨

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Hello friends and moon-faced beloveds 💗 About this account: I made this to share the beauty of Islamic literature / art & to keep up my practice of translating Classical Arabic. I use alt text to describe images and also add museum reference info there. All are welcome except haters ✨

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Lovely calligraphy from the famous “Pink Qur’an”, made in 13th-century Spain.

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

‏فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ بَصِيرًۢا

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ArabLit & ArabLit Quarterly @arablit.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Finally, Radwa Ashour's complete Granada trilogy is available in Kay Heikkenen's English translation. Today on ArabLit, authors, translators, & scholars reflect: arablit.org/2024/12/10/a...

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

My guess is that this hasn’t taken off yet in MENA and that’s part of it (far fewer QTs explaining or translating live updates in Arabic from the ground etc)

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

This is in the anthology Muʿjam al-shuʿarāʾ by Abū ʿUbaydallāh al-Marzubānī (d. 994) and in many other books.

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

ربما تجزع النفوس من الامر ‏له فرجه كحل العقال

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

The poets used to say: “A situation may leave souls in distress, but there is a way out, just as knots can unravel.” #poetry #arabic #quote #syria #poem #wisdom

‎ربما تجزع النفوس من الامر
‎له فرجه كحل العقال

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

The next verse (27:76) starts at the end of the bottom line, and begins with the words “inna hadha” [إِنَّ هَـٰذَا] The calligrapher nearly runs out of space after writing “inna”, but finds a creative way to add the next word without making the line too long: write vertically!

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

This calligraphy was written in the 11th century using a distinctive script known as Eastern Kufic (New style).

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

وَمَا مِنْ غَآئِبَةٍۢ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍۢ مُّبِينٍ

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

“There is nothing hidden in the heavens or the earth that is not written in a clear Record.” — The Qur’an, 27:75 #quran #koran #islam #islamic #quote #calligraphy #arabic #manuscript #islamicart #art #artsky

Verse 27:75 written in Eastern Kufic script, in a Qur'an made in the 11th century, probably in Iran (Smithsonian F2001.16a-b ).

وَمَا مِنْ غَآئِبَةٍۢ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍۢ مُّبِينٍ

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

This is from Nahj al-balāgha, the famed collection of material attributed to ʿAlī, compiled by al-Sharīf al-Raḍī (d. 1015).

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

وأحسن كما تحب أن يحسن إليك

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

“Do good unto others, just as you would have them do good unto you.” — ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib #quote #arabic #wisdom #islamic #nahj #ali #islam #ethics

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

A foreign princess arrives with her entourage at the palace of Khosrow I (d. 579). Illustration done in 16th-century Iran, in The Book of Kings - a medieval epic poem in Persian. #islamic #art #artsky #history #manuscript #persian #painting #iran #shahnameh #illustration #islamicart

Detail from a scene from a 16th-century copy of the Book of Kings, made in Iran (S1986.271), showing the Khaqan's daughter arriving at Nushirwan's palace.

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

‏إذا وترت أمراً فأحذر عداوته ‏من يزرع الشوك لا يحصد به عنبا

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

“If you wrong someone, fear the sting of their hatred. For whoever plants thorns will not harvest grapes.” — an old Arab proverb #quote #arabic #wisdom #proverb #poetry

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

This is from Ya ayyuha l-walad, al-Ghazali’s letter to a student (who he affectionately calls his “son” (walad))

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

العلم بلا عمل جنون ‏والعمل بغير علم لا يكون

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

“Knowledge without action is insanity, and action without knowledge is nothing at all.” — Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (d. 1111) #quote #knowledge #wisdom #ghazali #learning #praxis #arabic

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

This is from Nahj al-balāgha, the famed collection of material attributed to ʿAlī, compiled by al-Sharīf al-Raḍī (d. 1015).

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

‎سل تفقهاً ولا تسل تعنتاً

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

“Ask questions for the sake of actually learning something. Do not ask questions just to challenge someone or make them look foolish.” — ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib #quote #wisdom #islam #knowledge #education #ali

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

A word-for-word translation: “When wisdom becomes complete, speech decreases.”

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

This is from Nahj al-balāgha, the famed collection of material attributed to ʿAlī, compiled by al-Sharīf al-Raḍī (d. 1015).

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

إذا تم العقل نقص الكلام

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

“More wisdom = less talking.” — ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

A line of bold, blue Arabic in thuluth script, from a manuscript pairing Arabic sayings with Persian commentary, made in 18th-century Iran (LoC 2017406683).

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Dr. Stephennie Mulder @stephenniem.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Alright *cracks knuckles* let's do this! Today I'm inaugurating an episodic Monday series titled History of Islamic Art in 100 Objects. But we have to ask the most important question first: What is Islamic art? Also, why is this even a question? 🧵 #IslamicArt100Objects

A horizontally-aligned panel consisting of four images of works of Islamic art: a page of black calligraphy on a peach-colored ground, a red and gold textile with a pattern of wavy vines and leaves, a manuscript painting featuring birds in a blue, green, and gold landscape with a gold sky, and a manuscript page with a central radiating medallion painted in intricate geometric and floral patterns in blue, gold, and red. Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/collection-areas/islamic-art

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Joumana Medlej @majnouna.com · 24/11/2024

Did you know I publish a #Substack that has a large, free-to-read archive of articles based on my own research? It's called #Caravanserai: "An artist lighting her way through dark times by relearning forgotten art practices and natural ways." Check it out on majnouna.substack.com

Thumbnails with titles for three articles: Blue of Blues, Zafimaniry Geometry, and A Mamluk Masterpiece.

Thumbnails with titles for three articles: Lost Symbols, Quest for Lost Dyes, and Heavenly Figures

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Sorry can’t recall — this was maybe in late 2023

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Someone tried something like this before but when it inevitably spit out inaccurate info, people reached out to them and convinced them to stop the project. They also apologized.

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

This calligraphy is written in a script from the Kufic family, and appears in a Qur’an manuscript made during the 10th century, probably in Iran.

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

al-Rahman: “the Most Compassionate, the Giver of Grace and Mercy”

The word 'al-rahman' in Arabic, in a Kufic family script, from a Qur'an manuscript made in the 10th century, probably in Iran (F1932.55)

ٱلرَّحْمَانِ

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

This calligraphy is from a Qur’an manuscript made in 15th-century Iran.

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

“God does not guide those who do evil.” — Qur’an 2:25 #quran #islam

Line of Arabic in Muhaqqaq script, from a Qur'an manuscript made in 15th-century Shiraz (CBL Is 1502):

وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

A more rigid word-for-word rendering would be: ‎"Religion (dīn), in its entirety, is good character (khuluq)." ‎Ibn al-Qayyim adds that "the same is true for Sufism" (وكذلك التصوف)

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

الدين كله خلق، فمن زاد عليك في الخلق زاد عليك في الدين

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

“The essence of religion is good character. If someone outshines you in character, they have surpassed you in religion.” — Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 1350)

Circular illumination pattern with gold, red blue and green floral patterns around a gold center, in a 16th century Persian manuscript (Walters W.624)

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 29/07/2023

“Do you want to know what has a higher degree than prayer, fasting and charity? ‎Repairing a friendship. ‎A ruined friendship cuts away at everything else.” ‎— Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ

Detail of an illustration showing two women hanging out on an ornately tiled green rooftop with a large dome in the background. From a 16th century copy of Nizami's Khamsa, auctioned at Christie's on 31 Mar 2022.

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًۭا

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

The verse so nice, God said it twice. ❤️ Written here in Maghrebi script in a 13th-century Qur'an manuscript. I adjusted this make these lines stand out on their own. Here is the before version:

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Reading Islamic Texts @islamtexts.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

“So, surely with hardship comes ease. Surely with every hardship, there is ease.” — Qur’an 94:5-6

Qur'an 94:5-6 in maghribi script, from a Qur'an manuscript made in the 13th century, possibly in Morocco (Detroit Institute of Arts):

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًۭا

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