11Story

22 January 2010

Hilye 17e s

 

Hilye, signed by the calligrapher al-Haj Musa (dates unknown) Istanbul, 1712 Photograph. Original ink and gold on paper, backed with green silk. 46 x 34.1 cm The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art. © Nour Foundation. Courtesy of the Khalili Family Trust MSS 759

Unlike most hilyes, which were framed to be hung on walls, this example was designed as an amulet or talisman and would have been folded and worn in a phylactery or amulet-case: the creases are clearly visible in the photograph.    The description of the Prophet begins in the upper crescent and continues in the lower,* while the central circle contains a description of its protective powers and refers to Fatimah, mother of Mustafa ibn Ibrahim, the man for whom it was written—appropriately, the lower crescent contains the ‘hand of Fatimah’, a powerful sign against evil. The circle is bordered with Qur’anic verses written in numerical script (abjad), said to have augmented their protective force.   Above and below and in the side panels, are more Qur’anic verses and some of the Divine names, in both numerical and alphabetic scripts, as well as some talismanic inscriptions.   *This part of the text (the hilye proper) reads:  [first section] His head was large. His forehead was large. His eyes were bright. His eye-brows were arched … [?] His ears were small. His neck was long. His hands were long. His face was round. His beard was thick and round. His nose was curved. His lips were slender. His mouth was firm. His teeth were slightly separated. His speech was eloquent. [second section] His skin was light brown. His … was pale. His body was well-proportioned. His stature was perfect. His body was not hairy except from the centre of his chest to his navel. Between his shoulders was the mark of Prophet hood and written in its centre was: “There is no god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God”. And God took him unto Him at the age of sixty-three years.

 
 
 

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