Fragment of a interior Kaaba cover cloth

17. yüzyıl başı

Sending gifts of money, foodstuffs and precious works of art to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina was a longstanding tradition in the Islamic world. The caravans that carried these gifts were known as surre. The gifts included illuminated Korans, reading stands, candlesticks, lamps, censers, carpets and above all specially woven covers for the Kaaba. ‘Dressing the Kaaba’ was regarded as the greatest service to this holy place, and Islamic rulers of the holy land began sending new Kaaba cloths to Mecca every year in the Abbasid period (750-1258). Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520-66) is thought to be the first Ottoman ruler to send a Kaaba cloth. It was customary to cover the outside of the Kaaba with a black cloth and to hang red curtains inside. After they were replaced each year the old cloths were regarded as sacred. Koranic verses and prayers were woven into the design of Kaaba cloths. The fragment has the words, Lâ ilâhe illallah Muhammedun Resûlullah (There is no god but God and Muhammad is His Prophet) woven inside zigzag bands in cream silk on a red ground. In the spaces between the zigzag bands are medallions formed of rumi motifs containing the words ‘Allah’ and ‘Muhammad’ alternately.

Detail

Collection:

Kitap Sanatları ve Hat Koleksiyonu

Title:

Fragment of a interior Kaaba cover cloth

Date:

17. yüzyıl başı

Dimensions:

117,5 x 76 cm

Medium:

Silk brocade

Location:

Sabancı Üniversitesi Sakıp Sabancı Müzesi (Emirgan, İstanbul, Türkiye)

Object Number:

196-0578-X

Fragment of a interior Kaaba cover cloth

Detail

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