Skip Navigation

Illustrated Manuscript of the Dala'il al-Khayrat (The Ways of Edification) of al-Jazuli

Arts of the Islamic World

The Dala’il al-Khayrat (The Ways of Edification) of the Sufi mystic Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Jazuli (d. 1465) is a prayer manual venerating the prophet Muhammad. The text includes a collection of prayers for the Prophet, a description of his tomb, his names and epithets, and other devotional material. It became the center of a popular religious brotherhood, the Ashab al-Dalil, which revolved around the mystical Islamic practice of dhikr, or recitation, of this book of religious piety.

This manuscript is an Ottoman copy of al-Jazuli’s text, opened to an illustrated page containing a depiction of Mecca. Situated at the center of the mosque courtyard, the Kacba—the focal point of Muslim prayer—is marked for recognition by its black and gold cloth, while Ottoman-style minarets punctuate the surrounding walls. This stylized depiction favors essential information over naturalistic representation, recalling a rich history of geographic manuscripts with similar illustrations in the Ottoman world dating back to the sixteenth century.
MEDIUM Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; tooled and gilded leather binding
  • Place Made: Turkey
  • DATES late 18th century
    DYNASTY Ottoman
    PERIOD Ottoman
    DIMENSIONS 6 3/8 x 4 1/8 in. (16.2 x 10.5 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 71.49.1
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles K. Wilkinson
    PROVENANCE Prior to 1970, provenance not yet documented; by 1970, acquired by Charles K. Wilkinson and Irma Bezold Wilkinson (Mrs. Charles K. Wilkinson) of New York, NY; May 18, 1971, gift of Charles K. Wilkinson and Irma Bezold Wilkinson to the Brooklyn Museum.
    Provenance FAQ
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Illustrated Manuscript of the Dala'il al-Khayrat (The Ways of Edification) of al-Jazuli, late 18th century. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; tooled and gilded leather binding, 6 3/8 x 4 1/8 in. (16.2 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles K. Wilkinson, 71.49.1 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 71.49.1_view01_PS11.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 71.49.1_view01_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2022
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT No known copyright restrictions
    This work may be in the public domain in the United States. Works created by United States and non-United States nationals published prior to 1923 are in the public domain, subject to the terms of any applicable treaty or agreement. You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this work. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). The Museum does not warrant that the use of this work will not infringe on the rights of third parties, such as artists or artists' heirs holding the rights to the work. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions before copying, transmitting, or making other use of protected items beyond that allowed by "fair use," as such term is understood under the United States Copyright Act. The Brooklyn Museum makes no representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement governing copyright protection in the United States for works created by foreign nationals. For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
    RECORD COMPLETENESS
    Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.