Sitara

The Sitara, or curtain, was a gift from the Ottoman Sultans of Istanbul for the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah.

The tradition of sending Sitara pieces began in the 10th century and continued whenever replacements were needed. These pieces are intricately embroidered with verses from the Holy Quran, supplications to Allah, or sayings of the Prophet

Each Sitara was made for a specific mihrab, door, or sacred tomb chamber within the Mosque, though their exact original placement is not always recorded. Clues within the text of each Sitara often indicate its intended location. The creation of a Sitara was considered both an act of religious devotion and a demonstration of the Ottoman rulers wealth, reflected in their magnificent craftsmanship.