Honouring the Victims

Posted: January 17, 2020 - 08:00 , by ROM
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Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un

 

The above Arabic phrase is derived from the Qur’an (2:156), the Holy Book of all Muslims, which translates as ‘Indeed, to God we belong and to God we shall return.’ It is commonly recited by Muslims across the world upon hearing news that a person has died.

We, at the Royal Ontario Museum, join in the nation’s solidarity and shared grief to honour the passengers who lost their lives in the devastating crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752. Many of them were Canadians of Iranian descent and our hearts and minds are with the families of all those affected by this painful tragedy.

955.129.2.jpg

Object Information
Ceramic tile of a prayer niche (mihrab) with a hanging lamp and a Qur’anic inscription (Q. 17:78) that translates as: ‘Establish regular prayers at the sun’s decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and (Qur’anic) recitation, for the prayer and recitation in the morning carry their testimony.’

Produced in Iran, 13th-14th century AD, signed by the maker Abu’l Abbas
Dimensions: 27.9 x 20 x 3.5 cm. 955.129.2, Gift of Miss Helen Norton