Section from the Curtain of the Prophet’s Tomb

TXT 37

Istanbul, Turkey


late 17th or early 18th century


silk lampas, with satin ground and twill pattern, selective brocading and metal thread

155 x 53cm

The inscriptions consist of the shahadah, and the names of God and Muhammad in alternate wide bands. The four narrower bands bear surah al-Ahzab (XXXIII), part of verse 40; surah al-Tawbah (IX), part of verse 33; surah al-Ahzab (XXXIII), verse 56; and a prayer, ‘And may God be pleased with Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman and ‘Ali, and all of the Companions’. Textiles of similar palette and pattern are often depicted in paintings of the Prophet’s mosque.

[see TXT 241; MSS 97; MSS 745; MSS 1038]

J.M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, London 2010, cat.406, pp.344–5.