Puliyantivu Arabic Inscription

Puliyantivu Arabic Inscription is one of the Arabic Inscriptions in Sri Lanka. It is presently on the display at the Stone Gallery of Colombo National Museum.

A tombstone

This fragmentary stone slab which has been identified as a tombstone was discovered in Puliyantivu island in Mannar District (Dasanayaka, 2017; Kalus & Guillot, 2006). It was brought to the museum in about 1920 (Kalus & Guillot, 2006).

 

Only the upper part of a stone slab that was originally rectangular in shape is remaining today (Kalus & Guillot, 2006). The Arabic inscription on it consists of 6 lines (Only five lines are visible on the slab in Colombo National Museum. The remaining line is not visible due to its basement) and its upper part is decorated with a semi-circular arch (Kalus & Guillot, 2006). Some letters are also found on the upper part of both left and right corners.

 

The inscription has been written in Kufic scripts which flourished in the early centuries of Islam [(7th century A.D.) Dasanayaka, 2017; Kalus & Guillot, 2006]. Depending on the style of writing, this is assumed to be a work belonging to the 4th century Hijra [(9th century A.D.) Dasanayaka, 2017].

Content

Puliyantivu tombstone with the Arabic inscription

Period: 9th century A.D.                    Language: Arabic                    Script: Kufic

Transcript: (1) Alhamdu lillah (2) Bismillah hir Rahman ar-Rahim (3) La ila illallahu.....>>

Translation: (1) All praise be to Allah (2) In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful (3) There is no god but Allah.....>>

Citation: Dasanayaka, 2017. p.345.

 

References

1) Dasanayaka, R., 2017. Arabs in Serandib: Trade relations between Sri Lanka and West Asia from ancient time to 15th century A. D.: Historical and Archaeological Survey. S. Godage & Brothers. ISBN: 978-955-30. pp.344-345.

2) Kalus, L. and Guillot, C., 2006. Réinterprétation des plus anciennes stèles funéraires islamiques nousantariennes: III. Sri Lanka (In French). Archipel, 72(1), pp.27-29.

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This page was last updated on 18 April 2021
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