Or was it possibly meant as a rebuke to the name put on the machine? That might've been safer than a joke.Lah Ca wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 6:46 pm
She is pretty certain that it reads: Laa ghalib illa Allah (No victorious/no victor but Allah which is a parallel to No God but Allah).
But there is probably some small slightly sacrilegious joke contained herein. The machine is a paradox: it is a Victor Victrola but Laa ghalib illa Allah--there is no Victor except Allah.
Is it actually an Arabic machine--slightly risky if yes? Or was it custom work done for someone like a wealthy Spanish Arabic Scholar/Historian with a sly sense of humour?
My friend is pretty sure she is right with her interpretation but she is waiting for responses from other Arabists. More later maybe.
Cheers,
Fran