On either side of the arch of this mihrab (prayer niche) tile is the word ‘Allah’ (God); on the left this is done in mirror image. The Qur’anic inscription found around the sides of the tile and in the first two lines at the base is part of verse 18, Surah al-Taubah (The Repentance), which states: ‘The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah, … .’ The last line contains the name of the maker, Muhammad b. Firuz al- … (the last word cannot be read). This mihrab tile was most likely set in the qiblah wall of a mosque to help indicate the direction of prayer towards the Ka‘bah in Mecca.
