t　stories　are

recollected not only through images； but through words as well。” Ulu？ Bey

responded that his own miniaturists knew those words and stories； but still

couldn’t order the pictures。 “Because；” said the old miniaturist； “they think

quite　well　when　it　es　to　painting；　which　is　their　skill　or　their　art；　but　they

don’t prehend that the old masters made these pictures out of the

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memories of Allah Himself。” Ulu？ Bey asked how a child could know such

things。 “The child doesn’t know；” said the old miniaturist。 “But I； an elderly

and　blind　miniaturist；　know　that　Allah　created　this　worldly　realm　the　way　an

intelligent　seven…year…old　boy　would　want　to　see　it；　what’s　more；　Allah　created

this　earthly　realm　so　that；　above　all；　it　might　be　seen。　Afterward；　He　provided

us with words so we might share and discuss with one another what we’ve

seen。　We　mistakenly　assumed　that　these　stories　arose　out　of　words　and　that

illustrations were painted in service of these stories。 Quite to the contrary；

painting　is　the　act　of　seeking　out　Allah’s　memories　and　seeing　the　world　as　He

sees　the　world。”

DJIM

Two　hundred　fifty　years　ago；　Arab　miniaturists　were　in　the　custom　of　staring

at　the　western　horizon　at　daybreak　to　alleviate　the　understandable　and　eternal

anxieties