Beschreibung:

Kitab al-Ilam ba Ilam Beit Allah Al-Haram … (A History of Mecca and the History of the construction of the Haram al-Sharif), in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on polished paper [Mecca, dated 27 Shawwal 1003 AH (1595 AD)] apparently complete, 53 leaves (plus 2 fly-leaves), single column, 21 lines black naskh, headings and some overlining in red, title in stylised calligraphy, illuminated heading opening the text in Safavid style with blue and gold decorations (rather rubbed), one contemporary illuminated miniature depicting the Holy Ka'aba pasted onto text, recto of this leaf darkened (possibly from early censorship of text), leaves ruled in green, yellow and red, catch-words throughout, index included in the preliminary section of the work, numerous ink ownership inscriptions to margins listing previous owners of the volume, a few small stains, overall excellent condition, 210 by 150 mm.; contemporary paste-boards, a little soiled and worn, rebacked in nineteenth-century leather During the mid-sixteenth century the Ottoman Empire was at its strongest during the reign of Suleiman I when the Ottomans had control over all the main capitals of the Islamic world including Baghdad, Cairo, Tunis, Damascus, Jerusalem, Medina and Mecca. This manuscript includes a general history of Mecca as well as providing a detailed account of the construction of the Haram al-Sharif, during that period of Ottoman rule. The colophon states that the volume was copied at the "Madrisah Suleimaniya" (The Suleiman School, established by Suleiman I, which is still active today) and inscriptions to the margins name important figures who funded the construction and restoration of buildings in and around Mecca, including the royal patrons Sultan Selim and Sultan Suleiman among others.