Mahmal

Cover for a Damascus Mahmal, Istanbul, 16th century. Khalili Collection of Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage

A mahmal (Arabic: مَحْمَل, romanized: maḥmal) is a ceremonial passenger-less litter that was carried on a camel among caravans of pilgrims on the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca which is a sacred duty in Islam. It symbolised the political power of the sultans who sent it, demonstrating their custody of Islam's holy sites. Each mahmal had an intricately embroidered textile cover, or sitr.[1][2] The tradition dates back at least to the 13th century and ended in the mid-20th. There are many descriptions and photographs of mahmals from 19th century observers of the Hajj.[3]

  1. ^ Irwin, Robert (2012). "Journey to Mecca: A History (Part 2)". In Porter, Venetia (ed.). Hajj : journey to the heart of Islam. London: British Museum Press. pp. 140–145. ISBN 9780714111766.
  2. ^ "Mahmal". Khalili Collections. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  3. ^ Davidson, Linda Kay; Gitlitz, David Martin (2002). "Mahmal". Pilgrimage : from the Ganges to Graceland : an encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 364. ISBN 1-57607-543-5. OCLC 52500776.