Kodak Agfa Presents: Some of Egypt’s Islamic artifacts treasure on Mawlid Al-Nabawi 2025

Happy and Blessed Moulid El-Nabi to all Muslims around the globe

Tonight, nearly one and a half billion Muslims around the world are celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), commonly known in Arabic as El-Moulid, Mawlid El-Nabawy, or simply Al-Mawlid.

El-Moulid El-Nabawy is observed on the 12th of Rabi Al-Awwal in the Islamic calendar, which falls on September 4th this year.

This year, I didn’t go to the usual El-Moulid sweets markets in Cairo as the usual Kodak Agfa’s tradition. I couldn’t.

It’s hard for me to film or photograph the celebrations of Mawlid al-Nabawi 2025 in Egypt while genocide is still unfolding in Gaza.

How can we celebrate the Prophet’s birthday when Palestinians—mostly Muslims—are facing famine, as confirmed by the United Nations?

How can I stand among stalls overflowing with sweets and candies when so many Palestinians can’t even find their next meal?

It feels wrong. It feels unethical.

To me, it’s inappropriate, irreligious, and un-Islamic to celebrate in such a consuming, extravagant way. I cannot believe that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would accept Muslims celebrating his birthday with such excess while their brothers and sisters are being slaughtered and starved in an ongoing genocide and famine.

I grew up in an Egyptian family that believed in respect—so much so that if a neighbor lost someone, we lowered the TV volume out of consideration. Today, our neighbors in Gaza are living through genocide and famine. To hold festivities in such times feels nothing but shameful.

The same can be said for Sudan, where people are begging for food aid drops.

That’s why I can’t share new photos or videos of Moulid markets and sweets. Instead I will share some photos related to the Islamic civilization in Egypt.

Many people don’t realize that Egypt is home to the largest Islamic museum in the world, with the most extensive collection of Islamic artifacts anywhere.

I haven’t visited the Islamic Museum yet, but I came across these pieces at a temporary exhibition held at the Mohamed Ali Palace Complex in January 2023.

As always, each piece carried its own story and history.

We will start with this section of the red fabric with pure silver inscriptions, once part of the Kiswah sent from Egypt to Al-Masjid Al-Nabawy (the Prophet’s Mosque) in Medina, modern-day Saudi Arabia — the second holiest site in Islam and the resting place of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The Kiswah of Al-Masjid Al-Nabawy

Through this small piece, I have learned that Egypt used to send the Kiswah to the Al-Masjid Al-Nabawy just like Kabaa for century. 

I also knew that the Egyptian Kiswa makers did not use the current Black or Green, or gold colors, but rather vivid colors like red with silver.

The tradition of sending the Kiswah from Egypt began in the Ayyubid era under Saladin and was later institutionalised by the Mamluks, who established Cairo’s renowned Dar al-Kiswa workshop. The Fatimids used to send it from time to time.

To that sundial which was used to determine the time of prayers in Islam.

The 18th century Muhammed Abu al-Dhahab Mosque's Sundial 

This was sundial to determine the time of prayers in Islam was crafted in Aleppo in 1203 AH (1788–89 CE), during the Ottoman era.

The instrument, originally associated with the Mosque of Muhammad Bey Abu al-Dhahab in Cairo, is now preserved as a museum piece, reflecting the scientific and cultural exchanges between Ottoman Syria and Ottoman Egypt in the late 18th century.

Muhammed Abu al-Dhahab Mosque in Cairo 

Now there are lots of things inscribed on this small marble piece.

Beyond its role as a precise timekeeping instrument, the sundial’s marble face carries inscriptions that intertwine faith with astronomy. The words الظهر (noon) , العصر (afternoon), الغروب (sunset) mark the hours of daily prayers, grounding the device in the rhythm of worship. Alongside them appear celestial references: مدار السرطان، مدار الجدي، ومدار الحمل والميزان — the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the equinoctial points of Aries and Libra. The coupling of Aries and Libra reflects their significance as balance points in the heavens, heralding the spring and autumn equinoxes.

The sundial is one of humanity’s earliest tools for telling time, using the shadow of a stick or gnomon cast by the sun to mark the hours of the day. Ancient Egyptians were among the first to use it, carving portable stone sundials as early as 1500 BCE to organize daily life and religious rituals.

Later, the Greeks and Romans refined the design, and through the translation of Greek works into Arabic during the Abbasid era, sundials entered Islamic society, where scholars used them not only to keep time but also to determine prayer times and the direction of Mecca. In Egypt, sundials continued to be practical instruments well into the Islamic period, often installed in mosques and public spaces, linking a Pharaonic invention with Islamic science and daily worship.

To this collection of Ottoman-era golden and silver coins

Collections of silver and golden Ottoman silver Coins 

A collection of golden coins from different eras with inscriptions in Kufi script, alongside a set of smaller Ottoman silver coins known as ḍughrāʾ—used in everyday transactions in Ottoman Egypt—bearing Thuluth inscriptions and the names of Sultan Mustafa III (1757–1774), Sultan Abdul Hamid I (1774–1789), and Sultan Selim III (1789–1807).

Moving to this ceramic plate adjourned with verses of Holy Quran.

 Ceramic plate adjourned with verses of Holy Quran.

 The turquoise-glazed ceramic plate decorated with Qur’anic calligraphy, features Surah Al-Ikhlas at the center and the two protective chapters, Al-Falaq and Al-Nas (known as Al-Mu‘awwidhatayn), on either side. The floral arabesque motifs and blue-and-white style reflect the influence of Ottoman and Mamluk decorative arts, where sacred verses were inscribed on everyday and ceremonial objects for both devotion and protection

Ceramic plate art in Islamic civilization began to truly flourish in the 8th–9th centuries, during the Abbasid Caliphate (centered in Iraq). Baghdad and Samarra became major hubs where potters experimented with luster painting and calligraphic decoration.

The Abbasids were pioneers in elevating ceramics into a sophisticated art form, influencing Persia and Central Asia, including the Samanids with their famous black-and-white calligraphic ware. This tradition spread westward into North Africa and al-Andalus, and later reached its artistic peak in the Ottoman Empire, where the Iznik workshops produced some of the most celebrated ceramic plates of the Islamic world.

To this a gilded wooden frame with Qur’anic calligraphy.

Quranic Calligraphy by Ottoman Mustafa Ezzat

This 18th century gilded wooden frame features Qur’anic calligraphy written by Mustafa Izzet Efendi, the second calligraphy teacher of Sultan Abdulmejid I. Written in Thuluth and Naskh scripts, the framed page includes the verse: “And upon Allah let those who rely place their trust” (Qur’an 14:12).

The full verse reads

“And why should we not rely upon Allah while He has guided us to our [good] ways.

And we will surely be patient against whatever harm you should cause us. And upon Allah let those who would rely [indeed] rely.”

Mustafa Izzet Efendi held the distinguished title of Kazasker (قاضي عسكر), which literally means “military judge.” In the Ottoman Empire, the Kazasker was one of the highest-ranking judicial officials, second only to the Sheikh al-Islam, overseeing the courts of Anatolia and Rumelia.

His career illustrates the Ottoman tradition where judges, scholars, and statesmen often excelled in the art of calligraphy. Mastery of the pen was not only a spiritual and artistic pursuit but also a sign of intellectual refinement, making calligraphy an essential skill among the empire’s elite.His masterful works in Thuluth and Naskh scripts, dated around AH 1267 / AD 1850–51, represent the zenith of Ottoman calligraphy, balancing classical refinement with graceful innovation.

Quranic Calligraphy by Ottoman Mustafa Ezzat

His calligraphy is amazing for sure.

This is our tour for tonight.

As bonus content, here’s a video from last year’s Moulid Market that includes a quick look back at the history of Cairo’s Moulid markets.

And 2023 Moulid Market with a quick look to theAnd the 2023 Moulid Market, featuring a quick look at the history of the Moulid Doll and Knight. history of Moulid Dollie and Knight.

May you have a blessed and happy Moulid.