Come, come whoever you are
Even if you are a wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving
Ours is not a caravan of despair
Come even if you have broken your vows a thousand times
Come, come, come yet again
— Attributed to Mowlana Jalaleddin Rumi

KARACHI, April 28 Perhaps it is befitting that the sacred relics associated with the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him), members of his household and prominent companions are stored in Istanbul's Topkapi Palace museum, in the land of Mowlana Rumi — that great ecstatic and lover — whereas those who call the shots in the Holy Land do not have much of an appreciation for these blessed treasures.

However, though it would be ideal, one does not have to travel to Turkey to view the treasures as 'The Sacred Trusts,' an exhibition of photographic images of sacred relics from the Topkapi, are on display at Karachi's Fomma (Foundation for Museum of Modern Art).

The exhibition was inaugurated on Monday at the Fomma premises. Harun Koken, Chairman of the Rumi Forum, gave an introduction to the exhibition while Professor Dr Affan Seljuk discussed Turkey's role as keeper of Islamic heritage.

Relating the story of how the sacred treasures found their way to Istanbul from the Hijaz, Mr Koken said that Ottoman Sultan Selim I, also known as Yavuz Sultan Selim, who ruled the empire from 1512 to 1520, used to stay awake at night discussing important matters with one of his courtiers, Hassan Jan.

One night Hassan failed to make it to their nightly vigils and thereafter, the Sultan enquired what kept him away. Hassan Jan told Selim that in a dream, he had seen Arabs with glowing faces greeting the Sultan and ordering him to serve the Haramain (the holy cities of Makkah and Madina). Another man named Hassan related the same dream to the Sultan, and it was deduced that the Arabs seen in the vision were the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH), led by the first four Caliphs.

This led Selim to set his sights on the Mamluk Sultanate, which controlled the Hijaz. When the Mamluks fell, Mr Koken claimed the Mamluk governor of Hijaz handed over the relics to the victorious Selim, who did not take them by force. Selim reportedly also did away with the tradition of being called Hakim al-Haramain (ruler of the two holy shrines) and renamed himself Khadim al-Haramain (servant of the holy shrines), a title favoured by the Saudi sovereigns of today.

Mr Koken said whereas over 600 relics are contained in the Topkapi, only 20 or 30 images are on display at the exhibition. He said that for the past 400 years, a Hafiz recites the Holy Qur'an 24 hours a day in the rooms where the sacred relics are kept.

“The exhibition is not ours it is Muslim heritage, which we want to share with you. We want to preserve the message of our religion. If we can give the message of Islam — peace — we will be very glad,” he added.

Dr Seljuk said that at the time of the coronation, the caliph used to hold the Asa-i-Rasul (staff of the Prophet, PBUH), don the Prophetic mantle (burdasharif) and keep the Mus'haf-i-Usman (copy of the Holy Qur'an Hazrat Usman was reading when he was martyred) open before them in the hopes of seeking divine blessings.

Though it is claimed they are photographs, some images appeared stylistically to be paintings. Accompanied by captions, the prominent images include one of the Prophet's (PBUH) footprints, his sandal (naleyn mubarak) as well as the staff attributed to Hazrat Musa (AS) and the turban of Hazrat Yusuf (AS).

The exhibition will continue till April 30 from 11am to 8pm.—QAM