Photo 174(9)

Genre/Subject Matter

This photograph was taken from an elevated view northeast of the Masjid al-Khayf in Mina, seven kilometres east of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. Mina is a station of the hadj, where pilgrims camp out on the 8th, 11th, 12th (and some on the 13th) of Dhul-Hijjah, as can be seen in this image.

The regular, white-washed crenellated perimeter wall of the mosque is broken to the right of the taller minaret by an iwan-like entrance and a taller structure, which appears damaged. Several earthenware or wooden vessels placed adjacent to a wall in the centre foreground bear a resemblance to the Ibrīqs illustrated by Christian Snouck Hurgronje in his 1888 publication, Bilder-Atlas zu Mekka. As such, they may have a ceremonial function, or indeed be vessels for carrying water from the Zemzem well. Compare also the vessels in evidence in Photo 174/10.

Amongst the many and varying tents pitched before the mosque in the middle-ground are a wide variety of beasts of burden, such as horses, camels and donkeys, some of which are carrying litters – often used to carry women on long journeys throughout the Arabian peninsula. Due to the relatively slow shutter speed required to capture this image, many of the figures are blurred, particularly within the open space before the mosque in the left of the image.

Inscriptions

Recto:

Upper centre: ‘Picture of the Mosque of Khaif and Mina’

‘The mosque of Khaif and Mina is the house of mercy

The eminent, blessed, and famous place of worship.

The wise friend of God [i.e., Abraham] himself brought for sacrifice to this place, Isma'il’

To the right and left of the image:

‘Located at the foot of the mountain, it is a building of stone. It has an open courtyard in the middle of which is a domed building. Here the ritual prayer consists of five cycles. There is a tradition that most prophets have assembled here and prayed. This is the very field where Abraham, blessings be upon him, had intended to sacrifice his beloved son Isma'il in accordance with divine command. It is on this ground that he had him [Isma'il] lie down and stroked his neck with a knife. However, God the merciful, having accepted this sacrifice sanctioned that a ram be sacrificed instead.’

Lower centre: 'H. A. Mirza & Sons, Photographers, Chandni Chowk, Delhi'

Lower right corner, along right edge, in pencil: ‘9’ ‘146’

Verso:

In pen, upper right corner:

‘I.O / 146

4th [?] [? 07?] [illegible]’

Recto:

In red ink on lower centre right of image and – faintly – beneath lower left intersection of cruciform double-barred frame:

رجسطری شده

[superscript ط]

Labels

Labels (verso):

1 – Letterpress

‘146 H. A. Mirza and Sons, Photographers.

نقشه مسجد حنیف و منا (Naqsha-i-Masjid-i-

Hanif wa Mina. A photo. [sic] of the mosque

Hanif-o-Mina with a brief description.)

One sheet. Published by the Photogra-

phers: Delhi. (Octr. 15, 1907.)

14 x 18º. Litho. Ist Edition.

Price, Re. I, A. 4.’

2 – Ink stamp

‘India Office

19 May 1909

Library.’

Other Notes

The image was formerly referred to as ‘Hanif-o-Mina mosque, Medina’