Black Sitara of Kaaba, 1850 CE - 1851 CE
Textile
103.125 x 193.75
DC.5819
External curtain of the door of the Kaaba (Burqa) ordered by the Ottoman Sultan: Abdul Majeed I son of Mahmud II son of Abdul Hamid I son of Ahmed III...
External curtain of the door of the Kaaba (Burqa) ordered by the Ottoman Sultan: Abdul Majeed I son of Mahmud II son of Abdul Hamid I son of Ahmed III (reigned 1839 to 1861 AD), in the year 1267 AH.
The piece is of black silk of rectangular form, rich embroidered in silver & silver-gilt. There is a slit in the middle of the lower part for facilitating entry thru the door of the Kaaba. The design of the embroidery can be divided approximately into 11 horizontal tiers of different sizes. The inscribed calligraphy, mostly in the Thuluth Script, contains various verses from the Holy Quran, in addition to the Shahada & mentions of Allah, contained within various geometric shapes. Additionally, a central inscription incorporates the name of the Sultan who ordered the piece & the year in the Hijri calendar in which it was used. The borders & much of the background is richly decorated with foliage motifs in gold including frieze of stylized palm trees in the lower border of the curtain.
The inscriptions are as follows:
First row:
Surat Al Ikhlas, flanked by two roundels containing the words “Allahu Rabbi”, central roundel contains the words Allah Hasb
Second row:
1- Central rectangle contains Surat Al Naml (aya 30) and Surat Al Israa (aya 80).
2- Starting on the right side & finishing on the left side is vertical inscriptions of the Basmalah & Surat Al Fatiha that continue towards the bottom on the right side then continue up on the left side. These flank the tiers 2, 3, 5, 7 & 9.
Third row:
Four Medallions containing the Basmallah in mirror imag
Fourth row:
Two cartouches incorporating, from right to left, the first & second parts of Ayat Al Kursi, from Surat Al Baqara, interspersed by roundels containing Allahu Rabbi & Allahu Hasb
Fifth row: A panel containing the Basmalah & verse 27 from Surat Al Fat’
Sixth row: Two cartouches incorporating the rest of Ayat Al Kursi, continuing from the Fourth Row, interspersed by roundels containing Allahu Rabbi & Allahu Hasb
Seventh row:
1- Two large roundels, each with a smaller inner roundel, the right one reading “Allah, Jalla Jalaluhu” & the left one “Mohammad Rasulu Allah”. Each of the outer larger roundels is inscribed with Surat Al Ikhlas.
2- A central square incorporates the full name Sultan Abdul Majeed, the ruling Sultan who ordered the Kiswa to be made for the year 1267 AH.
Eight Row:
1- Basmalah & Surat Quraish, with two roundels with the inscriptions Allahu Rabb 2- Through the center starts the decoration & writing which frames the top of the slit that leads to the door of the Kaaba. This frame extends down to the Tenth Row, & incorporates Surat Al Ikhlas.
Ninth Row:
Two squares on either end of the slit, each with the inscription of the Shahadatei
Tenth Row:
On the right side: “La Ilaha Illa Allah, Al Maliku Al Mubeen” & on the left side: “Mohammadun Rasool Allah, Sadiqu Al Wa’adi Al AMeen”, flanked by two roundels inscribed “Allahu Rabbi”
Eleventh Row:
A Frieze of stylized palm trees.
The piece is of black silk of rectangular form, rich embroidered in silver & silver-gilt. There is a slit in the middle of the lower part for facilitating entry thru the door of the Kaaba. The design of the embroidery can be divided approximately into 11 horizontal tiers of different sizes. The inscribed calligraphy, mostly in the Thuluth Script, contains various verses from the Holy Quran, in addition to the Shahada & mentions of Allah, contained within various geometric shapes. Additionally, a central inscription incorporates the name of the Sultan who ordered the piece & the year in the Hijri calendar in which it was used. The borders & much of the background is richly decorated with foliage motifs in gold including frieze of stylized palm trees in the lower border of the curtain.
The inscriptions are as follows:
First row:
Surat Al Ikhlas, flanked by two roundels containing the words “Allahu Rabbi”, central roundel contains the words Allah Hasb
Second row:
1- Central rectangle contains Surat Al Naml (aya 30) and Surat Al Israa (aya 80).
2- Starting on the right side & finishing on the left side is vertical inscriptions of the Basmalah & Surat Al Fatiha that continue towards the bottom on the right side then continue up on the left side. These flank the tiers 2, 3, 5, 7 & 9.
Third row:
Four Medallions containing the Basmallah in mirror imag
Fourth row:
Two cartouches incorporating, from right to left, the first & second parts of Ayat Al Kursi, from Surat Al Baqara, interspersed by roundels containing Allahu Rabbi & Allahu Hasb
Fifth row: A panel containing the Basmalah & verse 27 from Surat Al Fat’
Sixth row: Two cartouches incorporating the rest of Ayat Al Kursi, continuing from the Fourth Row, interspersed by roundels containing Allahu Rabbi & Allahu Hasb
Seventh row:
1- Two large roundels, each with a smaller inner roundel, the right one reading “Allah, Jalla Jalaluhu” & the left one “Mohammad Rasulu Allah”. Each of the outer larger roundels is inscribed with Surat Al Ikhlas.
2- A central square incorporates the full name Sultan Abdul Majeed, the ruling Sultan who ordered the Kiswa to be made for the year 1267 AH.
Eight Row:
1- Basmalah & Surat Quraish, with two roundels with the inscriptions Allahu Rabb 2- Through the center starts the decoration & writing which frames the top of the slit that leads to the door of the Kaaba. This frame extends down to the Tenth Row, & incorporates Surat Al Ikhlas.
Ninth Row:
Two squares on either end of the slit, each with the inscription of the Shahadatei
Tenth Row:
On the right side: “La Ilaha Illa Allah, Al Maliku Al Mubeen” & on the left side: “Mohammadun Rasool Allah, Sadiqu Al Wa’adi Al AMeen”, flanked by two roundels inscribed “Allahu Rabbi”
Eleventh Row:
A Frieze of stylized palm trees.