poppy soot (šaqā'iq al-nuʿmān)
Iraq
11th Century
Source: Fani, G. (2021). Literary Dimension and Life of Arabic Treatises on Ink Making. In Brill Series on Islamic Ink and Calligraphy.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
poppy (šaqā'iq al-nuʿmān), gum arabic (ṣamġ ʿarabī), dung (sarǧīn)
Preparation Steps
The ink, called 'Iraqi ink', is prepared using poppy (šaqā'iq al-nuʿmān) and is known as an ink that is never removed (lā yuqlaʿ abadan). In the version recorded by al-Marrākušī, the poppy is buried in dung (sarǧīn) for several days, changing the dung every three days, until it dissolves and becomes water-like. It is then filtered and written with. Another version involves using poppy soot mixed with gum arabic. (p. 124-126)
Original Recipe Text
The ink, called 'Iraqi ink', is prepared using poppy (šaqā'iq al-nuʿmān) and is known as an ink that is never removed (lā yuqlaʿ abadan). In the version recorded by al-Marrākušī, the poppy is buried in dung (sarǧīn) for several days, changing the dung every three days, until it dissolves and becomes water-like. It is then filtered and written with. Another version involves using poppy soot mixed with gum arabic. (p. 124-126)
Evidence
"Title (IB = MM) Description of an Iraqi ink (ṣifat midād ʿirāqī). It is a midād that is never removed and the traces of which do not disappear from the parchment or the paper... it is taken poppy (šaqā'iq al-nuʿmān)..."
Remarks
The Appendix presents a multi-column comparison of this recipe across four primary historical treatises (al-Rāzī, Ibn Bādīs, al-Marrākušī, and al-Qalalūsī). The ink is valued for its permanence and inability to be erased from writing supports like parchment or paper. (p. 118, 124-126)
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionC
Certainty Level
Inferred
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
BinderAcacia gum
ColorBlack
RegionIraq
Approx. Year1050
Source Information
AuthorFani, G.
CollectionIbn Bādīs, ʿUmdat al-kuttāb
Language
N/A
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