Template:POTD/2022-05-02
A talismanic shirt is an item of clothing worn as a talisman. Talismanic shirts are found throughout the Islamic world, and can be grouped into four general types that differ in style and the symbols used: Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal, and West African. Such shirts were believed to be capable of offering protection to the wearer, especially in battle. This 17th-century Turkish talismanic shirt is made of cotton and inscribed with Quranic verses, the names of Allah, Islamic prayers, and views of Mecca and Medina in ink and gold. The shirt forms part of the Khalili Collection of Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage.Textile credit: unknown; photographed by the Khalili Collection of Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage