Rumi's Garden humbly presents a reproduction of a most glorious hilye scribed by the renowned calligrapher Abdulkadir Şükrü. With vibrant colors, intricate floral and arabesque designs, and fine calligraphy, this masterpiece presents Allah's 99 Names along with the description of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
At the topmost band of the layout is the written the Bismillah; 'In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. To the right of it is the Greatest Name of God, Allah, and to the left, Muhammad. Both these names are written in roundels rest above two cypress trees.
Jalaludin Rumi, the famous poet, expressed that the cypress is a symbol of tawhid. He further points to the cypress being symbolic of the manifestation of the Divine Attributes when he writes: ‘The cypress gives a hint of His majesty'. In his poetry, the cypress also comes to show the straightness of the direction in the path of love leading to spiritual height. He writes:
I am the tall cypress, which I can show you a sign of straightness, There is no sign of more straightness, other than the cypress height.
Considering the symbolism of the cypress trees, the calligrapher Abdulkadir Şükrü has placed The Most Beautiful Names of God within them. The 99 Names of Allah are recited below.
Other names written on the hilye are of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Hassan, and Hussain.
The main roundel, bordered by a golden crescent, and the lower rectangular contain a description of the Prophet ﷺ as reported by Sayidna Ali in the Shama'il al-Muhammadiyya of Imam al-Tirmidhi. It reads:
’He was neither excessively tall, nor short, but rather was of a medium stature among (his) people. His hair was neither extremely curly nor straight, but rather it was wavy and flowing. He was neither corpulent nor was his face completely circular, but it was slightly rounded. (His complexion) was fair with some redness. His eyes were very black, his eyelashes were long. His joints were large and his shoulders broad. He was smooth-skinned; a thin line of hair ran from his chest to his navel. His hands and feet were full-fleshed and sturdy. He walked with vigor, as though descending from a height. When he turned to look, he would turn with his whole person. Between his shoulders was the Seal of Prophethood, and he is the Seal of the Prophets. His heart was the soundest and most generous of hearts. His speech is the most truthful of speech. He was the gentlest of people and the kindest of them in companionship. Whoever saw him unexpectedly would be awe-stricken. Whoever came to know him would love him. Whoever described him would say, “I saw neither before him nor after him anyone like him”’.
The lowest band with the large script the contains the magnificent phrase:
لولاك لولاك ما خلقت الأفلاك
If not for you! If not for you! I would not have created the heavens and the world.
Details of the Ottoman hilya sharif reproduction by Abdul Qader Shukri
۩ Country of Origin: Ottoman Turkey
۩ Time Period: 18th cent.
۩ Artist: Abdulkadir Şükrü
۩ Size: Approximately 46 x 34 cm (including frame)
۩ Print: High-quality matte print and detail finishings
