Holy Relic Collection
H. E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey, inaugurated the newly renovated “Holy Relics” Section of Topkapı Palace Museum in Istanbul, on 29 December 2007. The opening was also attended by the Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr. Ertuğrul Günay, the Minister of Public Works and Settlement Mr. Faruk Nafiz Özak, the Minister of Environment and Forestry Mr. Veysel Eroğlu, the Governor of Istanbul Mr. Muammer Güler and the Metropolitan Mayor of Greater Istanbul Mr. Kadir Topbaş. Prime Minister Erdoğan delivered a comprehensive address, in which he underlined that all heavenly religions and beliefs uphold righteousness, justice and compassion. He said that the collections of the Holy Relics section represent a spiritual treasure which gives Istanbul and Turkey the greatest pride to be the keeper; this treasure inherited from the three major heavenly religions is of inestimable value. The Prime Minister said that the sacred relics of Prophet Mohammed and many other prophets kept in this section will enlighten the hearts of believers not only at present but also for the future generations; the gifts our ancestors sent to the holy places during centuries reflect the importance they gave to culture, to arts and artisans. “The door of the Kaba is here. The locks of the Kaba are here. It would be a big mistake to consider and to picture this history as bygone history. This place is not only a museum but the abode of a living civilization. … As a reward for loyalty to this legacy, for centuries Istanbul was the capital of our civilization. In this capital not only Muslims but the adherents of all beliefs lived in safety and security. … This place houses symbols of the search for eternal truth, history of mankind, and the sacred cause that gives humankind it humanness.
Following the address of Prime Minister Erdoğan, Dr. Halit Eren, Director General of IRCICA presented the Prime Minister with one of the latest publications of IRCICA, consisting of a facsimile edition of the copy of the Quran which is attributed to the time of Caliph Othman, the third caliph. The original copy is kept in the Topkapı Palace Museum. The edition and the accompanying scholarly study by Dr. Tayyar Altıkulaç were published by IRCICA in 2007. Mr. Ertuğrul Günay, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Mr. Orhan Düzgün, Director of Museums, and Prof. İlber Ortaylı, Director of Topkapı Palace Museum, also gave addresses.
The relics include personal articles and garments which belonged to Prophet Mohammed and other prophets and to the companions of Prophet Mohammed. The section also houses keys and locks of the Kaba, rare manuscripts, and containers and wrappers in which the objects were carried from Mecca and Medina to Istanbul. These objects of great religious significance are also excellent works of art. Following the conquest of Egypt by Sultan Selim I in 1517, the Caliphate passed on to the Ottomans; so were the keys of Mecca and the relics relating to the Kaba. Some of the relics were transported to Istanbul, the seat of the Caliphate, and some others were placed in the tomb of Prophet Mohammed. Precious gifts, new curtains and keys for the Kaba were sent every year from Istanbul and from other regions of the Muslim world. Thus the number and variety of the holy relics relating to the Kaba increased continuously over the centuries. Those relics to be brought to Istanbul were meticulously registered and delivered to the officials in charge of transferring them. They were preserved with utmost care and respect for centuries. The holy relics were opened for public view in 1962.
Topkapi PalaceTopkapi Palace was the residence of many Sultans and welcomed many visiting kings and ambassadors for centuries. However, what makes the palace so special is not only the former residents, but the Sacred Relics, which include personal belongings of prophets.
When Sultan Selim returned from the Egyptian campaign (1517), he brought to Istanbul the Sacred Relics from the treasuries of the Mamluk state, Abbasid Caliphate, and Hijaz Emirate.
Sultan Selim I began to collect the Sacred Relics at Topkapi Palace , and his successors continued the tradition until the beginning of the twentieth century. The sultans gathered the relics of the Prophet and other great Muslims, as well as items from respected religious sites. At the beginning of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, protecting relics from potential damage by the Wahhabis was a major concern. The Wahhabis thought those who showed reverence to objects were guilty of polytheism, so relics were sent to Istanbul for protection and care.
During World War I, when the surrender of Madina was being considered, the city's guardian, Fahreddin Pasha, sent a number of valuable gifts which had been received over the centuries, along with some Sacred Relics, to Istanbul .
Most of these are preserved in the Topkapi Palace Treasury Collection. Today, there are 605 items registered in the Topkapi Palace Museum Division of Sacred Relics. Moreover, there are many objects that can be considered Sacred Relics cataloged in the museum's treasury, arms, clothes, and library divisions.
The items that belonged to the Prophet are called Amanat (Trusts), while the items belonging to other great Muslims or sacred places are called Tabarrukat (Sacred Objects). Today, all the items are called “Sacred Relics,” but in the past they were registered as Blessed Relics ( Al-Amanat al-Mubaraka ).
The Ottomans did not attribute any holiness to material objects; yet, they were well aware that property belonging to the Messenger of God had a share of divine blessings.
Tahsin Öz wrote the following in his book Emanat-i Mukaddese [The Sacred Relics] published in 1953: “The Sacred Relics were collected thanks to various historical manifestations of fate throughout centuries. This treasure passed to Turks piece by piece by efforts motivated by faith and sometimes by fortune. It is clear that they are not only sacred objects collected and preserved with a religious bond and love, but are valuable by world standards artistically and historically as well. The care and traditional respect shown for the protection of these sacred objects so far has been infinite. As long as we exist, this sacred duty will be performed with love, respect, and honor.”
THE HOLY MANTLE
Among all sacred relics, the Holy Mantle of Prophet Muhammad holds a special place. Due to their respect for this honorable memory from the Prophet, the sultans preserved it in gold cases in the Throne Room. Therefore, the entire complex which included the Throne Room, Audience Hall, dormitory for pages, and the Treasury hosted became to be called Apartments of the Holy Mantle.
Prophet Muhammad, , met opposition and resistance when he began calling people to Islam. One of his opponents was the poet Ka‘b. After the conquest of Makka, the poet began to hide. Having been reprimanded by his brother, Ka‘b felt regret. Taking a risk, he secretly went to Madina in disguise and approached the Prophet to ask whether a person who repented his mistakes and embraced the faith would be forgiven or not. After the Messenger answered in the affirmative, the poet asked, “Even Ka‘b ibn Zuhayr?” When the Prophet affirmed this, too, Ka'b revealed his identity and began to read a poem, “Ode to the Mantle,” which would become famous. As a reward the Messenger of God took off his mantle and put it on Ka‘b ibn Zuhayr's shoulders.
COLLECTION
The collection consists of many objects, like Prophet Muhammad's mantle, standard, sandal, cup, footprint on a stone, swords, bow, his tooth that broke at Uhud, soil he used for ritual ablution, and his seal. (4given:could these be used again in the future?)
They also include a cooking vessel of the prophet Abraham; the turban of the prophet Joseph; the sword of the prophet David; a strand from Abu Bakr's beard; the Qur'an that is believed to be the one Caliph ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan was reading when he was assassinated; swords of the Prophet's companions; Fatima al-Zahra's blouse, veil, and mantle; her son Husayn's robe, his turban, and a piece of his mantle; Imam Abu Hanifa's robe; Uways al-Qarani's felt cap; the crowns of ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani and Imam Sharani; the bowls of Jalal al-Din al-Rumi; the gold rain gutters of the Ka‘ba; the gold and silver covers of the cook Stone; a wing of the Door of Repentance; the lock, keys, and covers of the Ka‘ba; objects like hooks, candles, censers a nd rosewater flasks which were used in the Ka‘ba or in Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque); pieces of wood, stone, glass, porcelain tile, etc. used in repair of these places; covers and soil from the Prophet's tomb; and the dust called Jawhar al-Saadat [The Jewel of Bliss] which was collected while cleaning the Prophet's tomb.
There are also items used for preserving the Sacred Relics through time, or for their transport from the Ka‘ba, such as chests, drawers, covers (embroidered or plain), bundle wrappers, scabbards, and rahle s (low reading desks). In addition, there are brooms and dust pans used to clean the Privy Chamber; candles; aloe wood; framed inscriptions written by famous calligraphers or the sultans; writings describing the virtues of the Prophet ( hilya ); prayer rugs and prayer beads; copper and silver bowls; candles; dervish headgear; zamzam water pitchers; and handkerchiefs and blocks for printing on handkerchiefs.
source: Islamic Website
Interior view of the Sacred Relics Chambers