This board game originated in India some time before the 18th century. There were many versions, each based on different belief systems. This Muslim version is known as the Game of Knowledge. It teaches the player about Islam. The player of this game embarks on a journey during which he will learn that the upward path of the spiritual seeker is a gradual one. The game starts at the left of the bottom row on the square inscribed Adam, and continues across each successive row to the top row inscribed with the names of the archangels. Each square is filled with an inscription describing one of a hundred different states of man. More information here... http://www.moa.ubc.ca/spiritofislam/knowledge/game_of_knowledge.html