An Ottoman red-ground calligraphic panel silk lampas with silver thread, from a curtain for the (external) wall of the tomb of the Prophet on Collections Sphere from

This section from a kiswah of the Prophet’s tomb belongs to a small group of fragments in which the finely calligraphed thuluth inscriptions are woven in silver-wrapped silk thread on a deep raspberry-pink ground. Selin Ipek has suggested that, given the amount of silver used in its weaving, the kiswa from which they come must have been a special commission. The vertical repeat consists of four wide zigzag bands alternating with four narrower ones; there are two horizontal repeats per loom width. The first wide band at the top of the textile has a supplication to God for blessings and peace upon Prophet. In the narrow band below that is surah al-Ikhlas (CXII), followed by the shahadah in the wide band. Next is surah al-Ahzab (XXXIII), verse 56. The third wide band has Allahu wala siwahu (‘God and there is none equal to Him’), with a small flower under each of the words, Allah. Inscribed in the last narrow band in the repeat is surah al-Qasas (XXVIII), end of verse 88.