وصفة حبر المصاحف ... من صنف المطبوخ

Ingredients

عفص, ماء, زاج, صمغ عربي

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The process for producing 'Masahif Ink' (Quranic Manuscript Ink) of the 'cooked' (matbukh) variety involves crushing two gallnuts (عفص) and adding three rotls (أرطال) of water. The mixture is boiled over a gentle fire until half the liquid has evaporated. After filtering the solution, five dirhams of high-quality vitriol (زاج) and ten dirhams of Arabic gum (صمغ عربي) are added. The preparation is then exposed to the sun for one full day before it is ready for calligraphic use (p. 149).

Evidence

"تأخذ حبتي عفص فترضها، وتصب عليه ثلاثة أرطال ماء، وتطبخه بنار لينة حتى يذهب النصف، ثم يصفى، ويطرح فيه زاج جيد وزن خمسة دراهم، وصمغ عربي وزن عشرة دراهم، ويوضع في الشمس يومًا، ثم يكتب به."

Remarks

This recipe is characterized by its historical continuity, being transmitted from Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi (d. 925 AD) to later figures like Al-Muizz ibn Badis (d. 1062 AD) and the Moroccan author Al-Marrakushi (1252 AD). Minor variations in proportions exist but do not affect the fundamental chemistry of the iron-gall ink (p. 149). The ink is specifically designed for the longevity and brilliance required for sacred texts (p. 148).