The hull of this sailing ship comprises the names of the Seven Sleepers and their dog. The tale of the Seven Sleepers, found in pre-Islamic Christian sources, concerns a group of men who sleep for centuries within a cave, protected by God from religious persecution. Both hadith (sayings of the Prophet), and tafsir (commentaries on the Qur'an) suggest that these verses from the Qur'an have protective qualities.
Credit: Louis E. and Theresa S. Seley Purchase Fund for Islamic Art and Rogers Fund, 2003
Dated A.H. 1180/ A.D. 1766-67
Ink and gold on paper
48.3cm
2003.241
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection