Fragments from the silsilah-nameh, or “scroll of spiritual succession,” of the Khalwatiyah Sufi order, c. 1800, Turkey (click through for more detail). The spiritual descent begins with three large discs: the first features the calligraphically rendered name of Allah, surrounded by some his most beautiful names. In the center of the middle disc is the name of Gabriel, surrounded by the names of 28 prophets. The last disc contains the name of Mohammad and the names of his closest companions; the discs are followed by golden circles containing the names of sheikhs. Many of the circles are surrounded by biographical notes in Turkish.
