Reproduction of HILYA hanging next to the throne of the Ottoman Sultans in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul. Faux Canvas Frame. Overall Size about 18 x 30 inches.

An easy way to invite blessings into your home...simply display this Hilya in a place of honor in your home!

Islam discourages drawing pictures of God or theProphets as it may lead to idolatrous worship. For this reason, aside from a fewinsignificant miniature paintings, largely meant for private viewing, there havebeen no pictures of the Prophet as public religious art. However the Prophet hasbeen described vividly by his contemporaries in the Hadith literature. Theseword portraits allow each believer to picture the Prophet in his or her ownheart and mind. These descriptions when written down in superb Arabiccalligraphy are called "HILYA" in Arabic - the general meaning is"ornament"  and  "adornment". 

For many centuries Muslims, especially those inthe Ottoman Turkish regions, have expressed their devotion, love and esteem forthe Prophet by hanging exquisite Hilyas in their homes and workplaces in placesof honor. In this way it was possible to  have a symbolic reminder of hisnoble character and charismatic personality in the home without the danger offalling into idolatrous ways.

Traditionally most  Hilya's  follow thestunning graphic format first developed by the great master calligrapher, HafizUsman. The most commonly used Hadith "word portrait" is that by HazratAli, one of the four rightly guided Caliphs and the son in law of the Prophet.Traditionally Quran 21:107 and 68:4 are also commonly used.

Typically, the description of Muhammad iscontained within a main circular disk that is the heart of the composition,which frequently has a slim lunar crescent surrounding the circle, recalling thedescription of the Prophet as the primordial light of the world. Four smallerdisks containing the names of Muhammad's principal successors remind the viewerof the role of tradition in transmitting his legacy. In a section at the top inlarge letters are the words "In the name of God, the Merciful, theCompassionate," the phrase that begins nearly every section of the Qur'an.Highlighted below the text is a phrase from the Qur'an in which God announcesthe universal role of Muhammad: "We only sent you as a mercy forcreation" (Qur'an 21:107), or "Truly, you are great in character"(Qur'an 68:4). The framing of this description by God s words, proclaiming thecosmic role of the Prophet, signals the unique spiritual position that Muhammadholds. The section at the bottom of the composition contains the portion of thehilya text that spills over from the disk above, followed by prayers andblessings on the Prophet, together with the signature of the calligrapher.