Picture of Zulfikar / Dhu’l-Faq ar?

[laEspadaAncha]

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…

[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.

[Rick]

It might not be proper to ask Dom's Wife for a translation if it is an Azimat ...
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14676

[laEspadaAncha]

Thank you Rick for the advice... I've changed the wording of the request to appeal to any of our Arabic-speaking forumites.

[laEspadaAncha]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by Rick

It might not be proper to ask Dom's Wife for a translation if it is an Azimat ...
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14676

... yes, again a "hijab" or "azimat"
talismanic printed papers, old to 50 ± 60 years, where you have;
magic squares, reference to 7 points about Soliman, Koran references, and so ...

dixit my wife, to who I showed these text;
- it's exactly the same printed papers that my wife's mother has hidden
in our apartment in Cairo to fight the "evil eye"

regarding ... "Zulficar" (Dhu-l-Faqar)
I visited Damascus Museum, I met the "curator" of the museum,
she apologized to don't be able to put in display the "Gospel" containing a representation of "Zulficar" ... with Ali ...
I do not remember exactly what the exact reasons she given me,
but, I did not believed her arguments, they was too fantasist
anyway, she did not denied, to have that book
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=zulficar

à +

Dom

ps/if this continues,
"Vikingsword Staff" will have to open,
a section about ... talismanic objects, only ... Ethnic of course

[Dom]

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

[Spunjer]

Originally Posted by Dom

...
à +

Dom

ps/if this continues,
"Vikingsword Staff" will have to open,
a section about ... talismanic objects, only ... Ethnic of course

Excellent idea, Dom! I vote for this...

[laEspadaAncha]

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]

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...