Ottoman devotional offering immersed in the love of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) — the Holy Star, 1250 AH
In the year 1250 AH, during the era of the Ottoman Caliphate, which was filled with dignity, light and spiritual greatness, during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II, this holy star was prepared with great care, courtesy and love from the Holy Shrine of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with unparalleled devotion and a great spirit of love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This was a blessed time when the Ottoman Caliphate considered serving Medina as its religious responsibility and spiritual honor. Under this spirit of loyalty and servitude to the Prophet (peace be upon him), this holy star was presented to the Holy Shrine of the Prophet (peace be upon him) so that it would always bear witness to love, devotion and loyalty in the atmosphere of Medina.
Date: 1250 AH
Order of manufacture: Ottoman Caliphate
Period: Sultan Mahmud II’s reign – Ottoman Caliphate
Relationship: Holy Shrine of the Prophet (ﷺ), Medina
Preparation: High-quality fabrics, exquisite workmanship, with hand-made classical Ottoman spiritual and botanical motifs
Central text: Ayatul Kursi in sacred Ottoman calligraphy – a manifestation of protection, divine majesty and divine sovereignty
Prominent in the center: Ayatul Kursi in the red area – a symbol of the spiritual protection of the Holy Shrine of the Prophet (ﷺ)
Surrounding text: Kalima Tayyaba in the surrounding boxes – faith, monotheism and the foundation of the religion of Islam
Red boxes on all four sides: The blessed names of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (RA), Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA), Hazrat Uthman Ghani (RA) and Hazrat Ali (RA) – symbols of the rightly guided Caliphate, justice, loyalty, sacrifice and the Prophetic literature
Around the edges: Quranic verses, Durood and the luminous fence of greetings and traditional Ottoman adhikr
Carving/pattern: Classical Ottoman spiritual and botanical motifs, balanced decoration and spiritual dignity
Colors used:
Green – symbol of Medina, paradise, spiritual life and peace of heart
Yellow and gold – light, holiness, glory and the greatness of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) court
Red – love of the Prophet (peace be upon him), sacrifice, religious zeal and Ottoman sincerity
Black pattern – dignity, protection and the spiritual depth of sacred writing
Symbolic symbols: monotheism, faith, the rightly guided Caliphate, love of the Messenger (peace be upon him), illumination and the spiritual dignity of the Ottoman Caliphate
Calligraphy: A beautiful and balanced combination of Ottoman bold, decorative and spiritual calligraphy
Intention of preparation: To present the Holy Shrine of the Prophet (peace be upon him) with devotion, respect, protection and a permanent spiritual connection
Spiritual description of the Holy Star
This Holy Ottoman Star is not just a work of art of cloth, color and carving, but is a creation of the heart of the Ottoman Caliphate It is a living expression of monotheism, divine worship and love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). At its center, the Ayat al-Kursi is a reminder of the fact that the real protection of the Holy Shrine of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is linked to the word of Allah, the Almighty, while the names of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them) on all four sides are a sign that this sacred place is under the protection of the love and prayers of the Rightly Guided Caliphate.
This sacred star remained hanging over the Holy Shrine of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for a long time and continued to carry the fragrance of remembrance, blessings and worship in the sacred atmosphere of Medina. Even today, every color, every pattern and every letter of it testifies to the irrefutable fact that when empires bow down in love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), their monuments become not just history but an eternal spiritual trust, which continues to draw hearts towards Medina even after centuries.
