Hilye-i Şerif exhibit breaks visitors record

ISTANBUL

The calligraphy works in the exhibition have an important place in Islamic literature. AA photo

The Hilye-i Şerif calligraphy exhibition “Lisan-I Hat ile Aşk-I Nebi,” which celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammed, had a record breaking number of visitors, with 450,000 people in one month.

The exhibition, which has been scheduled to close May 15, has been extended until June 15 due to large amount of interest it has generated.

The exhibition explains the physical appearance and other characteristics of the Prophet.

The works compiled what scholars of the time told of the Prophet’s characteristics and physical appearance known under the names of hilye-i şerif (noble description), hilye-i saadet (description of felicity) and hilye-i nebevi (the prophetic description). These works have an important place in Islamic literature.

The works, containing such minute details that they are thought to be capable of forming a portrait of the Prophet Mohammed, are also referred to as the Prophet’s written portrait. The exhibit opened on April 13 at Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Museum.