Muhammad Observing the Punishment of Usurers

The image is divided into two sections: the right side shows the Prophet Muhammad riding a Buraq—a creature with a human face and a winged, spotted body—accompanied by an angel wearing a golden crown and robes. To the left, a group of five red-skinned, grotesque demons stand amidst swirling orange and yellow flames, using metal ladles or shovels to pour molten substances onto the heads of condemned souls who are partially submerged in the fire. One demon in the center, appearing slightly more ape-like or distinct, holds a large red spoon or ladle above his shoulder. The composition is highly stylized, set against a dark void that represents the underworld, with the figures of Muhammad and his guide hovering on a light cloud.

This scene is an illustration from the *Miraj Nameh*, a Persian manuscript detailing the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey and Ascension. It depicts the specific torment of those who practiced usury, a major moral violation in Islamic law, as witnessed by the Prophet during his tour of the afterlife.