Hilya
Encyclopedia
A hilya hilye (Turkish, plural hilyeler) is a text describing the physical appearance of the Prophet Muhammad
, often carried in a breast pocket. In 17th-century Ottoman
Turkey
, hilya texts gave rise to a calligraphic
art form with a standard layout, often framed and used as a wall decoration.
, the best known of which is attributed to his son-in-law and cousin Ali
; another well-known one was provided by a woman named Umm Ma'bad. These descriptions were combined and elaborated on in poems, of which the Turkish Hilye-i Şerif ("The Noble Description") by Mehmet Hakani (d. 1606–07) is one of the best known. There had been a long tradition, dating back to early Islamic times, of carrying such texts, written in very small naskh
script, in one's breast pocket.
art form for presenting these hilya texts was developed by the leading calligrapher Hâfiz Osman
(1642–1698), for which hilye, the Turkish version of the term, is also used. As well as appearing in muraqqa
or albums of calligraphy and miniatures, these calligraphic panels were often framed and came to be used as wall decorations in houses, mosque
s and shrines, fulfilling an equivalent role to that played by images of Jesus in the Christian tradition. As symbolic art, they provided an aesthetically pleasing reminder of the Prophet's presence without involving the type of "graven image" unacceptable to most Muslims' sensitivities.
A characteristic feature of the texts shown at the centre of hilyeler is their praise for the beauty of Muhammad's physical appearance and character. While containing a verbal description of what Muhammad looked like, a hilye leaves picturing the prophet's appearance to the reader's imagination, in line with the mainly aniconic nature of Islamic art
. According to Christiane Gruber, "the hilye's form was conceived in a corporealizing manner so as to recall semantically the Prophet's presence via a graphic construct", reflected in some of the names for the different sections. In Iran, hilyeler occasionally also featured a portrait of Muhammad or Ali.
As an art form, hilye calligraphy has mostly been restricted to Turkey, southeastern Europe and countries around the eastern Mediterranean, although there are contemporary exponents of the art outside this region, such as the Pakistani
calligrapher Rasheed Butt
and the American calligrapher Mohamed Zakariya.
The remainder of the space is taken up with decorative Ottoman illumination
, of the type usual for the period, often with a border framing the whole in a contrasting design to the main central field that is the background of the text sections. The "head", "verse" and "corners" normally use a larger thuluth
script. While these are the general elements, deviations from the standard model do occur.
This hadith was thought to be genuine, but according to Mohamed Zakariya, its status is now often questioned. The hilya, as a vehicle for the Prophet's presence after his death, was believed to have a talismanic effect, capable of protecting a house, a child, a traveller, or a person in difficulty.
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, often carried in a breast pocket. In 17th-century Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, hilya texts gave rise to a calligraphic
Islamic calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy, colloquially known as Perso-Arabic calligraphy, is the artistic practice of handwriting, or calligraphy, and by extension, of bookmaking, in the lands sharing a common Islamic cultural heritage. This art form is based on the Arabic script, which for a long time was used by all...
art form with a standard layout, often framed and used as a wall decoration.
Texts
There are a small number of accepted early descriptions of Muhammad's physical appearance in the hadithHadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
, the best known of which is attributed to his son-in-law and cousin Ali
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
; another well-known one was provided by a woman named Umm Ma'bad. These descriptions were combined and elaborated on in poems, of which the Turkish Hilye-i Şerif ("The Noble Description") by Mehmet Hakani (d. 1606–07) is one of the best known. There had been a long tradition, dating back to early Islamic times, of carrying such texts, written in very small naskh
Naskh (script)
Naskh is a specific calligraphic style for writing in the Arabic alphabet, thought to be invented by the Iranian calligrapher Ibn Muqlah Shirazi . The root of this Arabic term means "to copy". It either refers to the fact that it replaced its predecessor, Kufic script, or that this style allows...
script, in one's breast pocket.
Art form
In Ottoman Turkey in the 17th century a calligraphicIslamic calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy, colloquially known as Perso-Arabic calligraphy, is the artistic practice of handwriting, or calligraphy, and by extension, of bookmaking, in the lands sharing a common Islamic cultural heritage. This art form is based on the Arabic script, which for a long time was used by all...
art form for presenting these hilya texts was developed by the leading calligrapher Hâfiz Osman
Hâfiz Osman
This article is about a 17th century calligrapher. For the Singaporean footballer, see Hafiz Osman.Hâfiz Osman was an Ottoman calligrapher.Hâfiz Osman was a Dervish; he was born in Istanbul...
(1642–1698), for which hilye, the Turkish version of the term, is also used. As well as appearing in muraqqa
Muraqqa
A Muraqqa is an album in book form containing Islamic miniature paintings and specimens of Islamic calligraphy, normally from several different sources, and perhaps other matter...
or albums of calligraphy and miniatures, these calligraphic panels were often framed and came to be used as wall decorations in houses, mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s and shrines, fulfilling an equivalent role to that played by images of Jesus in the Christian tradition. As symbolic art, they provided an aesthetically pleasing reminder of the Prophet's presence without involving the type of "graven image" unacceptable to most Muslims' sensitivities.
A characteristic feature of the texts shown at the centre of hilyeler is their praise for the beauty of Muhammad's physical appearance and character. While containing a verbal description of what Muhammad looked like, a hilye leaves picturing the prophet's appearance to the reader's imagination, in line with the mainly aniconic nature of Islamic art
Aniconism in Islam
Aniconism in Islam is a proscription in Islam against the creation of images of sentient living beings. The most absolute proscription is of images of Allah, followed by depictions of Muhammad, and then Islamic prophets and the relatives of the Prophet, but the depiction of all humans and animals...
. According to Christiane Gruber, "the hilye's form was conceived in a corporealizing manner so as to recall semantically the Prophet's presence via a graphic construct", reflected in some of the names for the different sections. In Iran, hilyeler occasionally also featured a portrait of Muhammad or Ali.
As an art form, hilye calligraphy has mostly been restricted to Turkey, southeastern Europe and countries around the eastern Mediterranean, although there are contemporary exponents of the art outside this region, such as the Pakistani
Pakistani
Pakistani may refer to:Person associated with Pakistan* Demographics of Pakistan* List of PakistanisPakistani as a language:* Urdu, national language of Pakistan* Languages of PakistanOther:* Pakistani cuisine- See also :...
calligrapher Rasheed Butt
Rasheed Butt
Rasheed Butt is one of Pakistan's foremost calligraphers. Active since 1961, he has worked in a number of calligraphic styles, including reproductions of texts from the Qur'an, the hadith, traditional invocations and prayers and poetry. He also produces hilya calligraphy.-External links:...
and the American calligrapher Mohamed Zakariya.
Standard layout
Hâfiz Osman developed a standard layout for the Ottoman hilye panel with the following elements:- The baş makam ("head station"), a top panel containing a bismallah or blessing
- The göbek ("navel"), a round shape containing the first part of the main text in naskh script
- The hilâl ("crescentCrescentIn art and symbolism, a crescent is generally the shape produced when a circular disk has a segment of another circle removed from its edge, so that what remains is a shape enclosed by two circular arcs of different diameters which intersect at two points .In astronomy, a crescent...
"), an optional section with no text, which is often gildedGildingThe term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as "gilt"...
. A crescent encircling the göbek, with its thick middle part at the bottom. Together, the göbek and hilal also evoke the image of the sun and the moon - The kösheler ("corners"), usually four rounded compartments surrounding the navel, typically containing the names of the four RashidunRashidunThe Rightly Guided Caliphs or The Righteous Caliphs is a term used in Sunni Islam to refer to the first four Caliphs who established the Rashidun Caliphate. The concept of "Rightly Guided Caliphs" originated with the Abbasid Dynasty...
or "rightly-guided" CaliphCaliphThe Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
s according to Sunnis, or in some cases other titles of the Prophet, names of his companions, or some of the names of AllahAllahAllah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and... - The ayet ("verse") section below the göbek and crescent, containing a verse from the Quran, usually ("And We [God] did not send you [Muhammad] except to be a mercy to the universe"), or sometimes ("Truly, you [Muhammad] are of a tremendous nature") or ("And God is significant witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God")
- The etek ("skirt" or lower part) containing the conclusion of the text begun in the göbek, a short prayer, and the signature of the artist
- The koltuklar ("armpits"), two alleys or side panels either side of the etek that typically contain ornamentation – sometimes illuminated – but no text, although occasionally the names of some of the ten companions of the Prophet are found there
- The iç and dış pervaz ("inner and outer frame"), an ornamental border in correct proportion to the text
The remainder of the space is taken up with decorative Ottoman illumination
Ottoman illumination
Turkish or Ottoman illumination covers non-figurative painted or drawn decorative art in books or on sheets in muraqqa or albums, as opposed to the figurative images of the Ottoman miniature. In Turkish it is called “tezhip”, an Arabic word which means “ornamenting with gold”...
, of the type usual for the period, often with a border framing the whole in a contrasting design to the main central field that is the background of the text sections. The "head", "verse" and "corners" normally use a larger thuluth
Thuluth
Thuluth is a script variety of Islamic calligraphy invented by the Persian Ibn Muqlah Shirazi, which made its first appearance in the 11th century CE . The straight angular forms of Kufic were replaced in the new script by curved and oblique lines. In Thuluth, one-third of each letter slopes, from...
script. While these are the general elements, deviations from the standard model do occur.
Function
The purpose of the hilya is to help visualise the Prophet as a mediator between the sacred and human worlds, to connect with him by using the viewing of the hilya as an opportunity to send a traditional blessing upon him, and to establish an intimacy with him. Several hadiths are ascribed to the Prophet which endorse the reading of hilya descriptions as beneficial; in one hadith he was reported as saying:This hadith was thought to be genuine, but according to Mohamed Zakariya, its status is now often questioned. The hilya, as a vehicle for the Prophet's presence after his death, was believed to have a talismanic effect, capable of protecting a house, a child, a traveller, or a person in difficulty.
External links
- "The Hilya, or the Adornment of the Prophet – A Calligraphic Icon", by Carl W. Ernst and Rasheed ButtRasheed ButtRasheed Butt is one of Pakistan's foremost calligraphers. Active since 1961, he has worked in a number of calligraphic styles, including reproductions of texts from the Qur'an, the hadith, traditional invocations and prayers and poetry. He also produces hilya calligraphy.-External links:...
- "The Hilye of the Prophet Muhammad", by Mohamed Zakariya
- "Hilye-i Şerife", by Faruk Taşkale
- Slideshow of hilyeler on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....