Inscription On The Dam Built By Caliph Muʿāwiya, 58 AH / 678 CE
Islamic Awareness
© Islamic Awareness, All Rights Reserved.
First Composed: 6th September 2000
Last Modified: 20th March 2008
| Tweet |
|
Assalamu-ʿalaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu:
(a)
(b)
Figure: (a) Image of the inscription and (b) its transcription.
Date
58 AH / 678 CE.
Script
Kufic. The right hand side shows transcription of the inscription.
It is interesting to note that this inscription shows the use of consonantal points for ي, ب, ن, ث, خ, ف, and ت. Compare it with another dam inscription from the time of Muʿāwiya. This establishes beyond doubt that in the sixth decade of the hijra certain letters were already pointed.
Contents
The translation of the inscription is:
- This dam [belongs] to servant of God Muʿāwiya,
- Commander of the believers. ʿAbdullāh b. Ṣakhr built it
- with the permission of Allāh, in the year fifty eight. O
- Allāh, pardon servant of God Muʿāwiya, c-
- ommander of the believers, and strengthen him, and make him victorious, and grant the
- Commander of the believers the enjoyment of it. ʿAmr b. Ḥabbab wrote [it].
Location
Near Ṭa'if in the Ḥijaz, Saudi Arabia.
References
[1] G. C. Miles, "Early Islamic Inscriptions Near Ṭa'if In The Ḥijaz", 1948, Journal Of Near Eastern Studies, Volume VII, pp. 236-242.
The images above are reproduced from the stated sources under the provisions of the copyright law. This allows for the reproduction of portions of copyrighted material for non-commercial, educational purposes.
With the exception for those images which have passed into the public domain, the use of these images for commercial purposes is expressly prohibited without the consent of the copyright holder.