Falnama
Book of omens in 16th-, 17th-century Islamic culture / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Persian word Falnama (Persian: فالنامه, lit. 'falnameh') covers two forms of bibliomancy (fortune-telling using a book) used historically in Iran, Turkey, and India.[2][3] Quranic Falnamas were sections at the end of Quran manuscripts used for fortune-telling based on a grid. In the 16th century, Falnama manuscripts were introduced that used a different system; individuals performed purification rituals, opened a random page in the book and interpreted their fortune in light of the painting and its accompanying text.[4] Only a few illustrated Falnamas now survive; these were commissioned by rich patrons and are unusually large books for the time, with bold, finely executed paintings.[5][6] These paintings illustrate historical and mythological figures as well as events and figures associated with the Abrahamic religions.