Arabian Epigraphic Notes

An Open Access Online Journal on Arabian Epigraphy.

An Islamic inscription from the Al-Mafraq Antiquities Office and Museum

Abstract

The core goal of this paper is to bring to light and study the significance of a recently discovered Islamic inscription, found in the northeastern desert region of Jordan. This inscription has subsequently been placed in the care of the Al-Mafraq Antiquities Office and Museum for its own safety and in order to protect its historic authenticity. The inscription itself has proved to be incredibly valuable as it provides further information on the climatic and environmental conditions during the 14th century AD.


Keywords

Graffiti Middle Arabic Jordan Weather Islamic Arabic inscription

Traces of the hamza in the Early Arabic Script: The Inscriptions of Zuhayr, Qays the Scribe, and ‘Yazīd the King’

Abstract

The present article re-edits three early Islamic inscriptions that exhibit an orthographic feature believed to represent the glottal stop (hamz). Overall, this orthographic device (referred to as ‘proto-hamza’) is employed four times in the three inscriptions, bringing the number of its known attestations to a grand total of nine. The article concludes by making some broad observations on the multifarious nature of the early Arabic writing tradition(s).


Keywords

Arabic (script) inscriptions Palaeography Islamic Arabic inscription Hamza Arabic orthography

New Islamic inscriptions from the Jordanian Badia region

Abstract

This paper aims to study new Islamic epigraphical material found in the Jordanian Badia. These inscriptions include one hadith and one inscription dating to the thirteenth century ce/eighth century ah. This study will highlight the relationship between the place where the inscriptions were found and the early Islamic mosque also said to be located there. The purpose of this article is to publish images of the newly-found inscriptions, give a translation, and provide some commentary. This article considers
the definition of Islamic inscription to be all Arabic inscriptions written since Islamic times.


Keywords

Funerary Inscriptions Jordan Islamic Arabic inscription Hadith Mosque