Beard of Muhammad

This is a very holy relic for Muslims.

It is called the Noble Beard, or Sakal-ı Şerif. It means a hair from the beard of Prophet Muhammad.

When Prophet Muhammad shaved, his close friends were with him. These friends were called sahabas. They loved him very much. He allowed them to take and keep some of his hair.

Later, some blessed hairs from his beard were sent to Istanbul. They were kept with great care. The jewelers of the palace made precious boxes for them.

In Ottoman times, these hairs were shown in some mosques on holy days for Muslims. People visited these mosques with deep respect. For them, this was a way to feel close to the memory of Prophet Muhammad.