Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1877 — The Standard of Mohammed. [ARTICLE]

The Standard of Mohammed.

A Madras Mussulman paper, tiie Sturuhgtw its readers the following iffiEbnffiatiMi respecting the “Prophet’s Standard/* which, it states, “was enshrined among other relics of the founder of Islam in Constantinople, and has been dlspatchcfl to the scene of war, in order that the valor of the Turkish troops may be stimulated through tkeir rcligipua feelings: - “An English author (Mr. Thorpton) has published in hiq book on Turkey copious details regarding this standard, . which is called ‘ £u> jak-i-Shureef ’ by. the Turks, whQ.ascribe a mysterious efficacy to ft, holding it in the highest veneration. NomMuipqinpjM areTwWdett J° gaze on it pain of death, and it was this threat which' deterted Mr. Thornton from casting on it when; the tttuidfird iPVHeA* 1 * £° n - stantinople, after if baa witnessed a reduring the Criipean war. ‘•When the Turkish army marches to war with the Button himself, or his Vizier, at the head, the standard is displayed, ana on catching a gMmppe of it every Moslem recites his prayers, while lending a hand in carrying it. A splendid silk tent is erected,, in.frontqf which the standard is raised, guarded by: forty chiefs of the Empire and soup bodies of infantry. i * Another writer, describing the standard, says that it is made of four layers of silk, the topmost of which is green, those below being composed of cloth embroidered with gold. Its entire length is twelve feet, and from it is suspended the figure of a human hand, which clasps a copy of the Koran, transcribed by the Caliph Osman. In times of peace the banner of the Prophet is kept in a chamber appropriated to the purpose, along with the clothes, teeth, the venerdble locks, the stirrups and the bow of the Prophet.”— Pall Mali Gaaett«. !