The Zulfiquar, known as the “sword of Ali” has great spiritual and religious significance in the Islamic religion and tradition. Ali Ibn Abi Talib (Imam Ali) was the son-in-law of the prophet Muhammed. The legend is that on the Day of Badr (Battle of Badr 624 AD) Muhammad asked God to give him a sword with which to vanquish his enemies. The double-pronged sword appeared in Muhammad's hands and Muhammad threw the sword to Ali to replace his sword that had broken in battle.
This excellent Indo-Persian Zulfiquar dates to the 19th Century and hails from Rajasthan in Northern India, the home of the Moghuls of Persian descent.
The 750mm curved blade has a serrated spine and terminates in a double-pronged point. The blade bears three engraved inscriptions, the first being a passage from the Koran, called the “Song of Ali,” which is engraved in Arabic.
The second inscription is the maker’s name, “Azad Zadeh.” The third inscription is a mixture of Arabic and Persian and translates as; “The king of brave men, the Lion of God. There is no God but God. There is no sword but the son of the Lion.”
The un-fullered blade is in good condition and retains a very sharp edge.
The high-quality hilt is of baluster form with punch decorated domed crosspieces and clubbed languets. The hilt terminates in a thick pommel disc with lotus flower decoration and bud-like skull crusher pommel stud. The hilt is in very good condition and extensively decorated. The blade is firm in the hilt.
This is an excellent and rare example of a 19th Century Muslim Zulfiquar from Rajasthan.
