Inscribed Tombstone of Shaikh al-Husain ibn Abdallah ibn al-Hasan (died 1110)

This tombstone belonging to the Arab leader Shaikh al-Husain ibn Abdallah ibn al-Hasan, is inscribed with Qur'anic verses detailing paradise in the afterlife in floriated Kufic script. Its innermost section is embellished with an arch-shaped niche similar to a mosque’s mihrab. The mihrab indicates the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, towards which worshippers pray.

The text on the outer border of the tombstone reminds the mourner of their own inevitable death: "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Every soul shall taste of death; and ye shall only receive your recompenses on the Day of Resurrection. And who so shall escape the fire, and be brought into Paradise, shall be happy. And the life [of this world is but a cheating fruition]" (3:185).

Arabic calligraphy, the supreme art form in the Islamic world, enhances this tombstone. The elegant Arabic script embellished with leaf tendrils at the top of the tall letters is called floriated Kufic.

Verses about paradise from the holy Qur'an border the central arch-shaped niche that resembles a mosque's mihrab, located in the wall closest to the holy city of Mecca. The name of the deceased and the year of his death are recorded within the niche above the names of the carvers: "The work of Abaidallah Murra(?) and 'Umar(?)." The inscriptions from the Qur'an translate as follows:

Outer border (read from right to left):
"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Every soul shall taste of death; and ...