Safavid 'Alam (standard)

‘Alams, which were originally used as military banners in battle, are standards used by the Shi‘a community in religious processions commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn in Karbala in 60 AH / 680 CE. This very large example bears several pierced inscriptions: the cartouches around the central part include the basmalla, sections of verse 13 of Sura al-Saff (Those Who Set the Ranks), and the Nad-e ‘Ali quatrain, a prayer in Arabic addressed to ‘Ali and believed to give strength while facing troubles, grief and anxiety. The central cartouche bears a Persian inscription which compares the ‘alam to a Sun for the servants of Haydar’s religion, in reference to ‘Ali. The lower section holds the date and name of the artist, Hajji Ardabili. He is mentioned on another ‘alam in the Tanavoli collection in Oxford.