'Abd al-Qadir Hisari: A calligraphic galleon (1766-1767)

(Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA)

A drawing from the artist 'Abd al-Qadir Hisari. This Calligraphic ship is composed of the names of the so-called '7 sleepers and their dog'. The story of the 7 sleepers comes from the 5th century and tells about a group of people who hide inside a cave to escape persecution for their faith. The group sleeps for several centuries and when the wake up they find the world changed. The namen of these  7 sleepers supposedly had protective qualities. The story is also told in the Qur'an (Surah 18, verse 9–26). Drawing from 1766-1767.