THE CURTAIN OF THE KAABA DOOR (BURQA') WITH THE NAME OF ABDULHAMIT II, DATED 1299 AH/1882 AD

Of rectangular form, embroidered in silver and silver-gilt thread over a black silk ground, the surface broken into cartouches of various shapes and sizes containing inscriptions in naskh and thuluth, the interstices filled with vegetal designs, a large silver inscription halfway up on cream ground, four cartouches above containing mirrored calligraphic inscriptions below three roundels, one drop-shaped and containing the name of the sultan and date in gilt thread on green ground, flanked by one with name of Allah and another with the name of Muhammad, each surrounded by radial inscription in silver thread, beneath the central one an opening with calligraphic border, at the base a frieze of palm trees, the silver thread slightly oxidized, small tears in the silk, conserved, sleeve for hanging attached at top, rebacked

590 by 290 cm.

The inscriptions are as follows: At the top, the basmalla and Quran CXII surah Al-Ikhlas, flanked by two roundels both containing the words Allah rabbi (Allah is my Lord), in the middle of the row on a third roundel is written Allah Hasbi (sufficient unto me is Allah).

On the second tier, starting from the top right corner, the basmalla, followed by Quran I sura Al-Fatiha, inscribed in consecutive parts that encircle the whole piece and the end at the upper left corner of the piece. The verses of surah Al-Fatiha are separated by the words Allah rabbi and Allah hasbi inscribed in small roundels.

The body of the piece is then divided into rows. First row: Quran XXVII surah Al-Naml, v.30 and Quran XVII surah Al-Israa, v.80.

Second row: four panels of coloured silk,each contain the basmalla, the left-half of each cartouche reflecting the right so the inscriptions read as symmetrical interlace designs.

Third row: divided into two narrow panels. On the right hand is the basmalla and the first part of ayat Al-Kursi (The Throne Verse), (Quran II surah Al-Baqara v.255). On the left side is the second part of ayat Al-Kursi, the two separated by a small roundel inscribed with the words Allah hasbi .

Fourth row: a broad panel containing Quran XLVIII surah Al-Fath, v.27 The fifth row is also divided into two parts that contain the rest of ayat Al-Kursi, separated by a circle inscribed Allah hasbi.

Sixth row: divided into three squares. On the right is a large roundel, in the centre of which is the word Allah, radiating the basmalla and Quran CCXII surah Al-Ikhlas. This is balanced on the left side by a similar roundel, this time with the word Muhammad radiating the basmallah and sura Al-Ikhlas. Between the two is a green drop-shaped cartouche, inscribed with the words "This cover was ordered by our lord, Sultan, Abdulhamit II ,1299

Seventh row: two parts separated by the opening for the portal. On the right side is the basmalla and the first part of Quran CVI surah Quaraish, which continues on the left part. The eighth, ninth and tenth rows are similarly divided by the opening. Both sides of the eighth and ninth rows give the shahada, while the ninth row reads on the right "There is no God but Allah, The Supreme Power, The Lucid" and on the left side "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, The Truthful, The Faithful".