View of the Holy Sanctuary at Mecca, seemingly from an illuminated Dala'il al-Khayrat , in Arabic, illustrated manuscript on paper [probably Morocco, late nineteenth century] single illuminated leaf, contemporary ink inscriptions labeling different areas in brown maghribi, drawn in ink with green, purple and yellow watercolours, tear across lower edge repaired, some light water-staining, 230 by 169 mm.; mounted on card Two-dimensional views of Mecca became the standard from as early as the thirteenth century and have been employed in Hajj certificates and manuscripts such as the Dala'il al-Khayrat ever since. The reverse of this leaf bears illustrations of the Qadam al-Nabil (Sandal of the Prophet, with its leather case) and the Hilyeh of the Prophet's footprint, powerful symbols of the Prophet for muslim pilgrims. "The representation of the sandal of the Prophet was regarded as amuletic [and] emphasised that it was supposed to be carried by its owner in its own purpose-made pouch Depictions of the Prophet's Sandal were particularly popular in Morocco" ( Hajj , British Museum, 2012). The use of bright colours and maghribi script place this manuscript in the region of Morocco and indicate that this leaf was once part of an important prayer book commissioned towards the end of the nineteenth century.