Painted by Sultan Muhammad
From a Khamsa of Nizami of 1539-43 in Tabriz
The heavenly ascension of the prophet Muhammad, known as the Miraj, is referred to at the beginning of Sura 17 of the Qur'an. This is the most beautiful of the many miniature paintings depicting his ascension through the heavens.
The prophet Muhammad is show with a veil covering his sacred face and the holy flame of prophethood around his head. The angel guiding him through the heavens is none other than Gabriel, who is depicted with a smaller divine flame. Muhammad sits upon the angelic Buraq, his human-headed horse on this journey.
The colours and movement are outstanding: I especially enjoy the swirling forms of the angels as they surround the Prophet and his mount, each one with a holy flame encircling the head.
This was perhaps the aged Sultan Muhammad's last painting, and it is an unquestioned masterpiece. Shah Tashmasp, the ruler of Iran, had by this point become more orthodox and disenchanted with miniature painting, and this work stands as one of the last paintings dedicated to him. I'm sure he appreciated it, both for its intrinsic beauty and religious subject matter.