Picture of Zulfikar / Dhu’l-Faq ar?

laEspadaAncha · 5th January 2012, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I think you are on to something. It is a zufikar and these are prayers. There are some bismallah on the paper and what seem to be "magic squares" on it as well. Very talismanic.

Thanks, Jose...

Can somebody enlighten me as to the meaning of the organization of the four panels and of the figures depicted on each?

AJ1356 · 5th January 2012, 10:00 AM

It is a prayer sheet, on the top right it says دعا ام الصلبیان Du'a um alsalbian. now personally I have never heard of this paryer. To me it seems printed not handwritten. The so called Zulfiqar, there are lots and lots of controversy as to how it actually looked like, most are just artist's renditions. I'd say including this one.

kronckew · 5th January 2012, 01:01 PM

i worked for aramco in dhahran & other aramco sites for eight years & a bit back in the 80's. sadly never found a sword or blade i liked. most i saw were either in poor shape or recent blingy gold/silver dancing swords. i was not really collecting them then. was given this framed photo that originally hung in the engineering building as a going away present. the real somewhat bigger one hangs in my dining area now. i believe it was taken in the 50's. your grandpa may have seen it...

there were a few old-timers still there who remembered the good times...
the recession at the end of the 80's saw the end of most of the expats. including me.

Jentayu · 5th January 2012, 01:45 PM

I believed it's talismanic script. In the four smaller rounds from the top are the names of guarding angels - Jibril (Gabrael), Mikael (Michael), Israfiel and Israel. While 10 smaller rounds below them are names of major prophets - Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, David, Jacob, Ishmael, Isaac, Jesus and Muhamad. I would tend to associate this talismanic script with Syiah as the picture of the mosque is typically a Shiah shrine / mosque.

Dom · 5th January 2012, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

there were a few old-timers still there who remembered the good times...
the recession at the end of the 80's saw the end of most of the expats. including me.

YES Sir, I was one among them

it was a blessed time of the Gods ...

I returned in the years 90th, for 3 years
but the atmosphere wasn't the same any more

à +

Dom

laEspadaAncha · 6th January 2012, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

i worked for aramco in dhahran & other aramco sites for eight years & a bit back in the 80's. sadly never found a sword or blade i liked. most i saw were either in poor shape or recent blingy gold/silver dancing swords. i was not really collecting them then. was given this framed photo that originally hung in the engineering building as a going away present. the real somewhat bigger one hangs in my dining area now. i believe it was taken in the 50's. your grandpa may have seen it...

I'm guessing he probably would have recognized it; it was a small fraternity back then... I can't remember how small my dad told me the total student population was there at the enclave, but I remember thinking it was so small it made the schoolhouse in Little House on the Prairie look like a state university by comparison.

laEspadaAncha · 6th January 2012, 12:12 AM

Thank you, Jose, Kronckew, AJNumbers, Jentayu, and Dom for your thoughts...

In particular, thank you Jentayu for the translation of the medallions.

I am still awfully curious to hear your collective thoughts on the figures depicted in the three left-most panels...

5th January 2012, 10:00 AM	#2
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 317	It is a prayer sheet, on the top right it says دعا ام الصلبیان Du'a um alsalbian. now personally I have never heard of this paryer. To me it seems printed not handwritten. The so called Zulfiqar, there are lots and lots of controversy as to how it actually looked like, most are just artist's renditions. I'd say including this one.

5th January 2012, 01:01 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	i worked for aramco in dhahran & other aramco sites for eight years & a bit back in the 80's. sadly never found a sword or blade i liked. most i saw were either in poor shape or recent blingy gold/silver dancing swords. i was not really collecting them then. was given this framed photo that originally hung in the engineering building as a going away present. the real somewhat bigger one hangs in my dining area now. i believe it was taken in the 50's. your grandpa may have seen it... there were a few old-timers still there who remembered the good times... the recession at the end of the 80's saw the end of most of the expats. including me.

5th January 2012, 01:45 PM	#4
Jentayu Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 63	I believed it's talismanic script. In the four smaller rounds from the top are the names of guarding angels - Jibril (Gabrael), Mikael (Michael), Israfiel and Israel. While 10 smaller rounds below them are names of major prophets - Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, David, Jacob, Ishmael, Isaac, Jesus and Muhamad. I would tend to associate this talismanic script with Syiah as the picture of the mosque is typically a Shiah shrine / mosque.

6th January 2012, 12:12 AM	#7
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Thank you, Jose, Kronckew, AJNumbers, Jentayu, and Dom for your thoughts... In particular, thank you Jentayu for the translation of the medallions. I am still awfully curious to hear your collective thoughts on the figures depicted in the three left-most panels...