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Ottoman Empire: Flags with the Zulfikar sword

Last modified: 2003-12-05 by ivan sache
Keywords: zulfikar | dhu'l-fakar | sultan | selim i | barbarossa | sword | error | scissors | morocco | magen david |
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The Zulfikar (Dhu'l-Fakar) sword

According to the Islamic tradition, the sword called Zulfikar belonged to Ali, the first caliph after the death of Muhammed. Zulfikar is one of the oldest symbols in the Islam and according to Shiites its existance goes back to Adam, who carried it out of Eden down to the Earth. The tradition says that the sword once belonged to Muhammed too, who gave it to Ali before his death.

The Ottomans adopted the symbolism of Zulfikar, that gradually became one of the main symbols of the Janissaries. It was not only an icon used in the war flags, but was also sculpted as a part of their tombs.

Baris Kilicbay, 20 August 1999

I have tracked down the following information in the academically impeccable Encyclopedia of Islam - New Edition (1965), Vol. 2, p. 233.
It bears out the important role of the sword in Islamic symbolism. Following is a summary, not direct quotation. My comments are in square brackets.

  • Dhu'l-Fakar [lit. "the possessor of the notch"] was a sword obtained by the prophet Muhammad as booty at the Battle of Badr [in A.D. 624]. It is mentioned in the Hadith, the traditional sayings of the Prophet.
  • The name comes from notches or grooves on the blade, pl. fukra.
  • Dhu'l-Fakar is axiomatically the best of all swords; fine blades produced in Islamic lands have traditionally born the inscription in Arabic, "There is no sword but Dhu'l-Fakar" [an allusion to the first phrase of the Islamic creed, "There is no god but Allah"].
  • The sword passed from Muhammad to his son-in-law Ali, fourth caliph in the Sunni succession or first imam to the Shiites, and became a major symbol of his family. After his death, it ultimately passed into the hands of the Abbasid caliphs.
  • Muslim iconography depicts Dhu'l-Fakar as having two points, apparently to mark its magical character - it was said to be capable of putting out both an enemy's eyes at one time. [This is not necessarily inconsistent with the popular explanation that the blade was split when Ali drew it from a scabbard that had been nailed shut; Ali is axiomatically the best of all heroes and so could be expected to perform such a feat.]
  • Dhu'l-Fakar eventually became a given name. [e.g., Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, late prime minister of Pakistan]

Joseph McMillan, 26 August 1999

Erroneous interpretation of the Zulfikar sword as scissors

The Zulfikar sword shown on flags was commonly misinterpreted by mediaeval European painters (and flag authorities) as (tailor's) scissors.

Zeljko Heimer, 20 August 1999

Such flags with scissors can be found on several old flag charts. It is reported on Dutch flag charts as Moorse vlag (Moorish flag); later it became 'Moroccan flag'. An example of the mistake is on Bellin's chart (1756) [bel56], reproduced on the cover of Sierksma's book [sie63].
The potential link to Morocco is that the Alaouite dynasty that has ruled Morocco for the last several centuries claims legitimacy on the basis of descent from Ali and hence would be expected to make use of Alid iconography. Whether they in fact did so may require further verification.

Jarig Bakker & Joseph McMillan, 26 August 1999

Another example of an erroneous interpretation of the Zulfikar sword can be seen on the flag of the Great Admiral of the Porte, shown on a XIXth century Dutch atlas.

Ivan Sache, 13 July 2002

Barbarossa's war standard

[War standard of Barbarossa]

Khayreddin Pasha, a.k.a. Barbarossa, was a Greek converted to Islam. He was corsair in the Mediterranean Sea and warlord of Algiers. Sultan Selim I "hired" him in 1519 with the title of beylerbey (Province Governor) of Algiers. In 1533, Suleiman the Magnificent asked him to reorganize the Ottoman Navy and gave him the title of Kapudan Pasha (Great Admiral). Barbarossa supervised the shipyards in Galata, where a powerful Navy was created. In 1534, he seized Tunis, Corfu and the other islands of the Aegean Sea. In 1538, he defeated the joint fleets of Charles I of Spain, Venice and the Pope. Barbarossa died in 1546, short after the siege of Nice with the French Navy. Nice then belonged to Savoy, and François I, King of France, was allied with Suleiman against Charles I.

Source: T. Bittar. Soliman - L'empire magnifique. Découvertes Gallimard, 1994.

Ivan Sache, 17 October 2001

Barbarossa's standard is shown in the Naval Museum of Istanbul and on the Museum website, with the following information:

Caption of the flag image is: Commander in Chief (1534-1546) Hizir Hayreddin (Barbarossa) Pasha's Standard.

Below the image are attached the following comments:

According to the legend, Hizir Hayreddin (Barbarossa) Pasha' s standard was made either during his life time or fifty years after his death. It was hung on the Sarcophagus in his mausoleum and stayed there until it was turned over to Topkapi Palace Museum. It was finally brought to the Naval Museum on February 19, 1976.

Explanation of the Symbols on the Standard:

  • Passage From the Conquest Sura
    "Mohammed! Reveal good news to the believers that the conquest is soon."
  • Names of the First Four Caliphes of Islam:
    Hazret-i Omer Hazret-i Ebu Bekir
    Hazret-i Ali Hazret-i Osman
  • Hand Figure [not shown on the image*]
    Symbolizes "Allah", the creator of the universe and the three religions and the protector of believers.
  • Hexagonal Star
    This symbol is used for various meanings and purposes.
    • Good luck charm in Middle Eastern teachings;
    • Symbol for masculine-feminine in Far-East;
    • Seal of Hazret-i Suleyman;
    • Star of David.

    Barbarossa and the Ottoman Navy were trading with the Jewish merchants during their reign in the Mediterranean and conquest. The provisional supplies were brought from Jewish merchants too. The purpose of the use of this star is to stress the Ottoman reign and protection over regions of Jewish populatio