Picture of Zulfikar / Dhu’l-Faq ar?

laEspadaAncha · 4th January 2012, 10:50 PM

My grandfather (picture below) worked in the oil fields for Aramco in the 1950s… and it didn't take long for him to learn how to trade with the Bedouins. My grandmother, meanwhile, would routinely return to the souks and bazaars looking for old curiosities. Even a blue collar worker like my grandfather was able to ship containers back stateside on the oil company's dime.

Over the better part of a century, they accumulated quite a bit of cool stuff, items both large and small. In the latter category was a small box in which my grandmother kept some small silver items, a few miniature paintings, and the following paper. It measures approximately 45x30 cm (a little under 12x18 inches), and from the earlier folding marks appears to have been folded into a small square. Each column looks to have been aligned independently to another column.

First, am I correct in my understanding this a prayer sheet, or devotional paper of some sort?

Second, I am hoping one of our resident Arabic speakers might be kind enough to translate some of the text in and around the panel depicting a sword I believe to be Zulfikar (or Dhu’l-Faq ar) based on the forked blade.

Any additional information anyone can provide on the paper pertaining to its content, use, and age would be greatly appreciated

My grandmother left notes attached to many of the small items in the box, but not to this…

4th January 2012, 10:50 PM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Picture of Zulfikar / Dhu’l-Faq ar? My grandfather (picture below) worked in the oil fields for Aramco in the 1950s… and it didn't take long for him to learn how to trade with the Bedouins. My grandmother, meanwhile, would routinely return to the souks and bazaars looking for old curiosities. Even a blue collar worker like my grandfather was able to ship containers back stateside on the oil company's dime. Over the better part of a century, they accumulated quite a bit of cool stuff, items both large and small. In the latter category was a small box in which my grandmother kept some small silver items, a few miniature paintings, and the following paper. It measures approximately 45x30 cm (a little under 12x18 inches), and from the earlier folding marks appears to have been folded into a small square. Each column looks to have been aligned independently to another column. First, am I correct in my understanding this a prayer sheet, or devotional paper of some sort? Second, I am hoping one of our resident Arabic speakers might be kind enough to translate some of the text in and around the panel depicting a sword I believe to be Zulfikar (or Dhu’l-Faq ar) based on the forked blade. Any additional information anyone can provide on the paper pertaining to its content, use, and age would be greatly appreciated My grandmother left notes attached to many of the small items in the box, but not to this… Attached Images Last edited by laEspadaAncha; 5th January 2012 at 06:43 AM.