Fol. 124a. A victory of 'Ali over the King of Zanzibar, whose general is represented as being killed in single combat. In this miniature, damaged and repainted like the rest, the exaggerated slimness of some of the figures is noticeable.
Back to Table of Contents 8
To next Page
Ann.: Kitab i Dastan; (Saga Book) Persia (15th)
----------------------------------------------------------
Taken from: webpage of: Bodleian Library MS. Ouseley Add. 1
Descriptive Catalogue Of The Persian Paintings In The Bodleian Library by GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Prophet stories and saint tales, the first examples have been encountered in the Islamic world early in the Middle Ages. They have been compiled in order to gain attraction for the moral concepts and Islamic ideas. Oral and written works have been made on notable prophet stories the roots of which come from The Quran and hadiths. Other works were done on moral personalities and the social lives of many saints from the Islamic World. This book was copied in 1565 (Bodleian Library MS. Ouseley Add. 1). It has four stories in it in which the last one is of interest for us: Dastan-i Dukhtar-i saʻluk-i Padishah-i Zangbar (ff. 114b-171a). (The Story of the Daughter of Sa'luk King of Zanzibar). In this story Ali the son in law of the Prophet goes like Alexander in Nizami’s Khamza fighting the Zang of Zangbar.
Fol. 143a. Discomfiture of the army of the King of Zanzibar by 'Ali and his followers using fire-balls. Damaged and repainted.
Fol. 1 68a. 'Ali and his companions seated in a mosque receiving Zulaykha daughter of the King of Zanzibar, into the faith of Islam.