Circular ornament with the bismillah

Title: Circular ornament

Type: Jewelry and Ornament

Associated Religious Tradition: Islam

Origins

• Geography: IranClose TooltipIran[E-rAn]a country in the Middle East.
• Date: 17th century
• Period: Safavid period

Physical Properties

• Material: Steel overlaid with gold
• Dimensions: H × W: 4.7 × 4.7 cm (1 7/8 × 1 7/8 in)

Crediting Information

• Collection: Freer Gallery of Art Collection
• Credit Line: Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment
• Accession Number: F1940.9

The Arabic inscription in gold at the center of this ornament reads “bism Allah al-Rahman al-Rahim” and can be translated as “In the name of God, The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.” This phrase is called the bismillahClose Tooltipbismillah[BISS-mil-lah]the abbreviation of the three words that appear at the beginning of each chapter in the Qur’an. The phrase translates to “In the name of God, The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.” and has great significance for Muslims. It appears at the beginning of every chapter of the Qur’an but one and serves as an introductory invocation. Muslims believe the Qur’an to be the Word of God as revealed to the ProphetClose Tooltipprophetan intermediary who speaks to humanity on behalf of God. Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel, a truth that the bismillah affirms. Beyond the holy text, Muslims proclaim the bismillah in their daily lives. They pronounce it to call upon God’s help and protection before performing an action. As a central concept in Islamic belief and practice, the phrase reminds believers that God has spoken to humankind in the words of the Qur’an. The bismillah also includes the first three of the ninety-nine names of God in Islam: Allah, al-Rahman, al-Rahim. In Islam, God is the one and only God (Allah). In relationship to humanity, God is the Most Merciful (al-Rahman) and the Most Compassionate (al-Rahim).

The small, eight-lobed ornament is decorated with a concentric scroll of stylized blossoms and leaves cut out of a sheet of hammered steel. Placed over the fine scroll is the bismillahClose Tooltipbismillah[BISS-mil-lah]the abbreviation of the three words that appear at the beginning of each chapter in the Qur’an. The phrase translates to “In the name of God, The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.”: “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,” a phrase that appears at the beginning of all but one chapter of the Qur’an. The inscription and the band framing the ornament are overlaid with gold.

The holes surrounding the ornament served to affix it to another object or an architectural element both as a decorative feature and as a reminder of God’s omnipresence. It could have been used in either a religious or a secular context as the bismillah is meant to remind Muslims of God’s protection in all their deeds and actions. The pious invocation is also a favorite subject for artists who have used it to express their calligraphic creativity. Here, the artist has chosen to distribute the words and letters on six interlocked lines, which are not read from top to bottom. The correct order is lines 2, 1, 6, 5, 4, 3—meant to create an elegant overall design.

The ornament originated in seventeenth-century IranClose TooltipIran[E-rAn]a country in the Middle East. during the Safavid dynasty (1501–1722). The SafavidsClose TooltipSafavids[SAF-uh-vidz]a dynasty that ruled over modern-day Iran and part of Afghanistan from 1501 to 1722. were great patrons of the arts, and during their reign, the production of manuscripts (see Angels bow before Adam and Eve in Paradise), carpets, textiles, and metalwork flourished. Safavid artists also excelled in making objects in cut steel, which often had gold inlay or overlay, as in this ornament. Such objects were used as ceremonial weapons as well as decoration.

Today as in the past, many Muslims continue to call to mind the name of God in all aspects of their daily life. They pronounce the bismillahClose Tooltipbismillah[BISS-mil-lah]the abbreviation of the three words that appear at the beginning of each chapter in the Qur’an. The phrase translates to “In the name of God, The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.” before reciting the Qur’an, saying their prayers, or before beginning a task, whether it is a familiar or an unfamiliar one, and whether it is special or mundane. The bismillah is also associated with aspects of food culture, and the name of God is spoken in the preparation and consumption of halal (“permitted,” in Arabic) food by Muslims. In other words, the bismillah is invoked any time Muslims wish to call upon God for a blessing or protection. The phrase is expressed not only verbally but it also appears on many surfaces, from hard steel to soft silk. It adorns the interiors and exteriors of structures and is inscribed on tiles affixed to entrances. Today, the phrase is also frequently displayed on the windshields of cars!

1. What do you see as you look at the ornament? What do you notice about the patterns? How many different patterns can you identify? What do you notice about the colors?
2. Why do you think the artist uses gold to highlight the Arabic script? What might this use of gold convey about the meaning of this phrase?

1. What religious beliefs of Muslims are conveyed by the bismillahClose Tooltipbismillah[BISS-mil-lah]the abbreviation of the three words that appear at the beginning of each chapter in the Qur’an. The phrase translates to “In the name of God, The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.”?
2. In what moments of religious practice or daily life could the bismillah be spoken?
3. Can you identify a word, phrase, or saying that is important to a group or community of which you are a part? How does this common belief or saying create a sense of community and belonging?

Atil, Esin, W. T. Chase, and Paul Jett. Islamic Metalwork in the Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1985. No. 30.

Farhad, Massumeh, and Simon Rettig. The Art of the Qur’an: Treasures from the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. Washington, DC: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, 2016.

Sells, Michael Anthony. Approaching the Qur’an: The Early Revelations. 3rd ed. London: Oneworld Academic, 2023.