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Munajat (Confidential Talks) of 'Ali ibn Abu-Talib

ca. 1200
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 454
The munajat, or “confidential talks,” of the first Shiite Imam 'Ali b. Abi-Talib take the form of prayers to God. Along with the forty sayings of Imam 'Ali, akin to the hadith, or traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, books of munajat provided doctrinal guidance to medieval Shiites. Although the Seljuqs and their successors had tried to promote Sunni Islam and suppress Shiism, their efforts were neither systematic nor entirely successful, as the existence of this book attests.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Munajat (Confidential Talks) of 'Ali ibn Abu-Talib
  • Date: ca. 1200
  • Geography: Attributed to Iraq, possibly Mosul
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; morocco leather binding
  • Dimensions: H. 6 7/8 (17.4 cm)
    W. 5 1/8 in. (13.1 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Louis E. and Theresa S. Seley Purchase Fund for Islamic Art and Rogers Fund, 1995
  • Object Number: 1995.324
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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