Ismail Samani

A 9th-century Coin

Obverse, in field: “no god but God, unique, He has no associate, excellent”; in margin: “in the name of God this dirham was struck in Samarqand the year one and eighty and two hundred.” Reverse, in field: “for God, Muhammad is the messenger of God, al-Mu‘tadid billah, Isma‘il”; in margin: “Muhammad is the messenger of God who sent him with guidance and the religion of truth that he might make it supreme over all other religions, even though the polytheists may detest it” (Q 9:33)

A 10th-century Tomb

This is Ismail Samani’s tomb in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.