Egyptian fabrics were famous in Arabia many years before the Arabic conquest of Egypt. Historians wrote that among the presents Cyrus, the ruler of Egypt, gave to Prophet Mohammed were pieces of Egyptian fabric. According to different historical accounts, from early times the caliphs wanted to use the valuable fabrics of Egypt to cover with a cloth the Kaaba, the central cubic stone structure within the Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Al-Arzaqi wrote that Omar, the second caliph, bought the Kaaba covers with the public money of Bait Al-Mal, which was the treasury, and would write to Amr ibn Al-As, the ruler of Egypt, to order the covers. Othman, the third caliph, did the same.
Al-Maqrizi says that Al-Fakihi, the historian of Mecca, read on the Kaaba cover that it was made by order of Caliph Al-Mahdi at the Tennis workshop by the ruler of Egypt in the year AH 159 (AD 775). He saw one cover made in Tennis by order of Al-Mahdi in AH 162 (AD 778) and a third one made of Egyptian tapestry in the Touna workshop by order of Harun Al-Rashid, the Abbasid caliph, in AH 190 (AD 805).
Al-Fakihi saw yet other covers made in Egypt by order of As-Sirri ibn Al-Hakam, whose name was found on some coins as the ruler of Egypt in AH 197 (AD 812).
Nasiri Khisro, the Persian traveler, mentioned that the covers were made twice a year. The covers always have been made in Egypt, except for 12 years during the Mongol turmoil and the killing of the caliph. Sultan Al-Zahir Baybars resumed sending the covers after taking power. He fought and overcame the ruler of Mecca who opposed that act. The victory was a sign of Egypt's taking control over Al-Hijaz again.
Sending the Kaaba covers each year was a symbolic indication of Egypt's supremacy over Al-Hijaz and the Islamic world, which explains the conflict between Al-Ashraf Barsbay, Sultan of Egypt, and Shah Rukh, son of Tamerlane.
The writing on the covers usually states where they were made, such as the cities of Tanis, Shata, and Touna, but some covers do not list a city of origin. It seems that making the covers was one of the tasks of the workshops of the Mamluk sultans. The special interest of caliphs in making the Kaaba covers is evident in the description of the one made by order of Caliph Al-Muizz in AH 362 at the Cairo workshop. The people were amazed when he made it public for the first time in his palace. It was made of red cloth, stitched with 12 golden crescents. Inside each crescent, a gold frame held red, yellow, and blue rubies. On the cover was written in green emerald the pilgrimage verses from the Qur'an, while the inside of the calligraphy was made of pearls. The people of Egypt and Syria said they had never seen a Kaaba cover before that would match this magnificent one.
Al-Maqrizi says that Al-Fakihi, the historian of Mecca, read on the Kaaba cover that it was made by order of Caliph Al-Mahdi at the Tennis workshop by the ruler of Egypt in the year AH 159 (AD 775). He saw one cover made in Tennis by order of Al-Mahdi in AH 162 (AD 778) and a third one made of Egyptian tapestry in the Touna workshop by order of Harun Al-Rashid, the Abbasid caliph, in AH 190 (AD 805).
Al-Fakihi saw yet other covers made in Egypt by order of As-Sirri ibn Al-Hakam, whose name was found on some coins as the ruler of Egypt in AH 197 (AD 812).
Nasiri Khisro, the Persian traveler, mentioned that the covers were made twice a year. The covers always have been made in Egypt, except for 12 years during the Mongol turmoil and the killing of the caliph. Sultan Al-Zahir Baybars resumed sending the covers after taking power. He fought and overcame the ruler of Mecca who opposed that act. The victory was a sign of Egypt's taking control over Al-Hijaz again.
Sending the Kaaba covers each year was a symbolic indication of Egypt's supremacy over Al-Hijaz and the Islamic world, which explains the conflict between Al-Ashraf Barsbay, Sultan of Egypt, and Shah Rukh, son of Tamerlane.
The writing on the covers usually states where they were made, such as the cities of Tanis, Shata, and Touna, but some covers do not list a city of origin. It seems that making the covers was one of the tasks of the workshops of the Mamluk sultans. The special interest of caliphs in making the Kaaba covers is evident in the description of the one made by order of Caliph Al-Muizz in AH 362 at the Cairo workshop. The people were amazed when he made it public for the first time in his palace. It was made of red cloth, stitched with 12 golden crescents. Inside each crescent, a gold frame held red, yellow, and blue rubies. On the cover was written in green emerald the pilgrimage verses from the Qur'an, while the inside of the calligraphy was made of pearls. The people of Egypt and Syria said they had never seen a Kaaba cover before that would match this magnificent one.
No comments:
Post a Comment