Sher Dor Madrasa, Samarqand, Uzbekistan
The Sher Dor madrasa lies at Registan Square in Samarqand. The madrasa was built in the seventeenth century between 1619 and 1636. An inscription attributes construction to Abdul Jabbar and decoration to Mohammad Abbas.
Iwan frame text
The square kufic frame around the iwan of the madrasa is made up of the complete third Kalima, repeated. The first part of the Kalima is in dark blue(black here) glazed tiles, and the other part in turquoise tiles.
سبحان لله و الحمد لله و لآ اله الا الله و الله اكبر
subhan Allah, wal hamdu lillahi, wa la illaha ilAllah, wallahu akbar
ولا حول ولا قوة لا بالله العلى العظيم
wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah-al 'alii-al 'adheem
Wall pattern 1
Transliteration of the kufic in the pattern, representing the first Kalima.
لا اله الا الله
la ilaha illa Allah
محمد رسول الله
Muhammad rasul Allah
Wall pattern 2
Transliteration of the kufic in the pattern, representing parts of the third Kalima.
سبحان الله و الحمد لله
subhan Allah wal hamdu lillahi
الله
Allah
اكبر
akhbar
Wall pattern 3
Transliteration of the kufic in the pattern.
يا رحمن
ya Rahman
يا رحيم
ya Rahim
Wall pattern 4
Transliteration of the kufic in the pattern.
الله
Allah
اكبر
akhbar
Minaret pattern
يا حي
يا قيوم
يا الله
(Top and bottom.)
يا لا و شايين
Iwan Wall pattern 1
Transliteration of the kufic in the pattern.
يا ربي
Ya Rabbi