ICO 381

This symbolic representation depicts the principal schools of Islamic jurisprudence in the form of a floral bouquet. Emerging from a common source at the base of the composition, the various branches lead to the major traditions of *fiqh*, including the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali schools, as well as other legal traditions represented by the flowers that complete the composition. Through its harmonious organization and refined floral decoration, this work illustrates the diversity of legal interpretations developed within Islamic civilization while emphasizing their common roots in a shared religious tradition. It stands as a remarkable testimony to the ways in which religious knowledge was transmitted, organized, and visually represented in the graphic arts of the Islamic world.

Estimated date: Late 19th – early 20th century.

ICO 378

This lithograph, entitled Bayān al-Ṭuruq (“Exposition of the Spiritual Paths”), depicts the principal Sufi orders of the Muslim world in the symbolic form of a tree. From the spiritual source represented at the base of the composition emerge the various initiatic paths, including the Qādiriyya, Shādhiliyya, Khalwatiyya, Bektāshiyya, ʿĪsāwiyya, and many other Sufi orders. The work illustrates the diversity of Sufi traditions while emphasizing their common origin and shared spiritual heritage. Through its combination of calligraphy, floral ornamentation, and arboreal imagery, this document stands as a remarkable testimony to the history of Sufi brotherhoods and the transmission of spiritual knowledge throughout the Islamic world.

Estimated date: Late 19th – early 20th century.

ICO 589

This calligraphic and symbolic representation is dedicated to the Rifāʿiyya Sufi order, founded by the Sufi master Aḥmad al-Rifāʿī (1118–1182). At the center of the composition appears the emblematic turban associated with the founder of the order, surrounded by the names of his principal successors and spiritual representatives. The work also incorporates several symbols characteristic of the Rifāʿī tradition, including weapons, banners, and scorpion figures, alluding to certain ascetic practices and expressions of devotion that contributed to the order’s renown. Through its hierarchical arrangement, this document illustrates the transmission of spiritual teaching within the Rifāʿiyya and preserves the memory of the masters who ensured its spread throughout the Muslim world.

Estimated date: Late 19th – early 20th century.

ICO 228

This tree diagram illustrates the genealogy of the Ahl al-Bayt, the Family of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Arranged in the form of a flowering tree, the composition depicts the Prophet’s ancestors, descendants, and the principal figures of the Prophetic Household, whose names are inscribed within the blossoms adorning its branches. At the top of the tree appears the name of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, accompanied by a symbolic representation of Medina and the Prophet’s Mosque. Through its rich floral decoration and genealogical structure, this work commemorates the memory of the Prophetic Family and stands as a remarkable testament to the significance of spiritual lineages in the Islamic tradition.

Estimated date: Late 19th – early 20th century.

ICO 1343

This document presents the various branches of the Mawlawiyya (Mevlevi) Sufi order, founded on the teachings of Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (1207–1273). At the center of the composition stands Rūmī’s mausoleum in Konya, while the surrounding cartouches depict the distinctive turbans and headdresses associated with the order’s different lineages and functions. Each head covering serves as a distinctive emblem, identifying affiliation with a particular branch or rank within the order. Combining calligraphy, symbolic representation, and descriptions of ceremonial attire, this work highlights the importance of initiatic traditions and visual markers of identity in the organization of Sufi brotherhoods.

Estimated date: Late 19th – early 20th century.

ICO 379

This tree-like representation illustrates the principal Sufi orders through their founders and spiritual lineages. At the center of the composition are several eminent masters who profoundly shaped the history of Sufism, including ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī, Bahāʾ al-Dīn al-Naqshbandī, and Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Jazūlī, whose teachings gave rise to numerous spiritual branches. The branches extend to the various Sufi orders that developed throughout the Muslim world, forming a veritable map of the initiatic traditions of Sufism. Through its symbolic tree structure, this work highlights the bonds of spiritual descent, transmission, and inheritance that unite the different paths to a common source.

Estimated date: Late 19th – early 20th century.