DOI issue:
Nr. 1-2
DOI article:Majda, Tadeusz: The Musilm magical-medicinal Bowl in the Collections of the National Museum in Warsaw
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18945#0076
ing pieces of metal which are supposed to strengthen the liquid’s magical
power. The bowl may be placed outside for the night to be mixed with dew.
The bowls are usually covered with inscriptions, signs, images of the planets,
signs of the zodiac, venomous animals and reptiles or even hunting scenes. In
the case of inscriptions, much significance is attached not only to the word’s
content, but also to the meaning, symbol and numerical value of individual let-
ters. Inscriptions may be drawn from any of the following sources: Koranic
verses, epithets of Allah, the so-called asma al-husna (beautiful names), invo-
cations, blessings, wishes, the names of the four elective calliphs, the names of
the twelve Shiite imams, the basamala (an abbreviation of the formula „in the
name of Allah the Munificent and the Merciful“), the shahada as an avowal of
faith („There is no other God than Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet“), in-
vocations, including among others: Ma sha’llab (for good fortune), la quwwa
ilia billah (There is nothing without divine power). In most cases, the verses are
taken from the following suras in the Koran: Ya-Sin (XXXVI), Al-Baqara (II,
Cow), Ta Ha (XX), Al-Isra’ (XVII, Night journey), Al-Ikhlas (CXII, The Ho-
nesty of Faith), ATFalak (CXIII, The Dawn), An-Nas (CXIV, Mankind),
Al-Kafiruna (CIX, Those who reject Faith), An-Nasr (CX, Help), Al-Masad
(CXI, Rope), Al-Kausar (CVIII, Abundance), Al-Imran (III, Imran’s Family),
Al-Anfal (VIII, Spoils of war), At-Tauba (IX, Repentance ), Yunus (X, Jonah),
An-Nahl (XVI, The Bee), Al-Fath (XLIII, Victory), As-Saff (LXI, Battle Arrary),
Al-Mumin), XL, The Believer).
The best-liked verses include: Ayat ash-Shifa (Curative Verses), sura IX,
verse 14, X, v. 57, XVI, v. 69, XVII, v. 8, XXVI, v. 79-80, XLÏ, v. 45), Ayat
al-Hifz (Protective Verses) XII, v. 65, XIII, v. 12, XV, v. 18, XV, v. 10, XXXVII,
1. The Muslim
Magical-Medicinal Bowl, Iran,
17th cent., Warsaw, Muzeum
Narodowe
70
power. The bowl may be placed outside for the night to be mixed with dew.
The bowls are usually covered with inscriptions, signs, images of the planets,
signs of the zodiac, venomous animals and reptiles or even hunting scenes. In
the case of inscriptions, much significance is attached not only to the word’s
content, but also to the meaning, symbol and numerical value of individual let-
ters. Inscriptions may be drawn from any of the following sources: Koranic
verses, epithets of Allah, the so-called asma al-husna (beautiful names), invo-
cations, blessings, wishes, the names of the four elective calliphs, the names of
the twelve Shiite imams, the basamala (an abbreviation of the formula „in the
name of Allah the Munificent and the Merciful“), the shahada as an avowal of
faith („There is no other God than Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet“), in-
vocations, including among others: Ma sha’llab (for good fortune), la quwwa
ilia billah (There is nothing without divine power). In most cases, the verses are
taken from the following suras in the Koran: Ya-Sin (XXXVI), Al-Baqara (II,
Cow), Ta Ha (XX), Al-Isra’ (XVII, Night journey), Al-Ikhlas (CXII, The Ho-
nesty of Faith), ATFalak (CXIII, The Dawn), An-Nas (CXIV, Mankind),
Al-Kafiruna (CIX, Those who reject Faith), An-Nasr (CX, Help), Al-Masad
(CXI, Rope), Al-Kausar (CVIII, Abundance), Al-Imran (III, Imran’s Family),
Al-Anfal (VIII, Spoils of war), At-Tauba (IX, Repentance ), Yunus (X, Jonah),
An-Nahl (XVI, The Bee), Al-Fath (XLIII, Victory), As-Saff (LXI, Battle Arrary),
Al-Mumin), XL, The Believer).
The best-liked verses include: Ayat ash-Shifa (Curative Verses), sura IX,
verse 14, X, v. 57, XVI, v. 69, XVII, v. 8, XXVI, v. 79-80, XLÏ, v. 45), Ayat
al-Hifz (Protective Verses) XII, v. 65, XIII, v. 12, XV, v. 18, XV, v. 10, XXXVII,
1. The Muslim
Magical-Medicinal Bowl, Iran,
17th cent., Warsaw, Muzeum
Narodowe
70