The legacy of the faithful
The Prophet’s cloak is put on display at an Istanbul mosque during Ramadan every year, drawing visitors from around the world
ISTANBUL // The biggest new attraction in Istanbul is a centuries-old jacket lying flat in a glass case in a mosque in Istanbul. But this is no ordinary garment. It is the Hirka-I-Serif, the Prophet Mohammed’s cloak.
Made of linen, cotton and silk, the Hirka-I-Serif, which means Noble Cloak, was brought to Istanbul in the 17th century, at a time when the Ottoman Empire controlled much of the Islamic world deep into today’s Saudi Arabia.
Every year, during Ramadan, the cloak is put on special display at the Hirka-I-Serif mosque in Istanbul, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors.
“I was here last year. God willing, I will be here next year as long as I am alive,” 78-year-old Nimet Sahin said, as caretakers warned visitors that taking selfies was inappropriate.
Neziha Polat, 76, said she visited the place every year.
“I come here every year and have the same feeling. Let God not diminish this feeling in our heart,” she said.
The garment had been entrusted to Uwais Al Qarni, who went in the seventh century to Medina to see Prophet Mohammed but had to leave without seeing him, because his mother in Yemen was ill. Impressed by the story, Prophet Mohammed gave his cloak through his companions to Al Qarni as a present and he received the garment in Yemen.
Al Qarni had no children and the relic was then preserved by his relatives, said Istanbul mufti Hasan Kamil Yilmaz. In 1611 Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I brought the cloak to Istanbul from Kusadasi in western Turkey where Al Qarni’s relatives had preserved it. Hirka-I-Serif has been in Istanbul ever since.
In 1851, Sultan Abdul Majid built the Hirka-I-Serif mosque in the Fatih district as a place to preserve and exhibit the cloak.The sacred garment has passed from one generation to another and its current head keeper is Baris Samir – the 59th generation grandson of Al Qarni
‘ People from Siberia to Africa, from America to the Far East come and see the Prophet’s cloak Baris Samir the descendant of Al Qarni who was first given the garment
who was first given the garment.
“It’s a very honourable duty. We are very happy to perform it, and have such a responsibility,” Mr Samir said.
“It’s also a tough job, it is a tough responsibility, morally and financially.” Men and women queue separately to see the garment.
Every year, more than over one million believers come to see the garment from all over the world.
“People from Siberia to Africa, from America to the Far East come and see the Prophet’s cloak,” Mr Samir said. “We receive many visitors especially on the Laylat- al- Qadr ( Night of Destiny marking the start of revelation of Quranic verses) because the cloak can be seen till the morning.” Loukman Hakim, 49, a businessman from Malaysia, was with a group of about 20.
“It makes us happy, it makes us feel that we have to do something to be with him, meaning to say that we have to spread the love, spread the teaching, spread all the goodness that Prophet Mohammed had brought into this humankind.”