Pearls of Wisdom: The Arts of Islam at the University of Michigan

This collection of prayers includes a grid containing the ninety-nine "Beautiful Names" of God (al-asma’ al-husna). The text area is bordered by a thick gold frame, situated within a lavender-dyed and gold-flecked page. The names of God are written in the vocative and transcribed in alternating colors of red and black ink within separate cells. The "Beautiful Names" of God comprise his many attributes and epithets, including al-Rahman (The Compassionate) and al-Rahim (The Merciful). As part of prayer practices, devotees recite these names, often with the aid of a string of thirty-three prayer beads.

Bibliography: Manuscript's online catalogue entry; Witkam 2007; Pearson 1907; and Burrell and Daher 1995.