The MEK collection contains around 800 cultural artefacts that are connected to Muslims or people who are perceived as Muslim. The project "Muslim visibility in the museum: traces of European Muslims in the MEK collection" explored some of these artefacts and also examined the history of the institution. As part of the process, various objects and stories found a new place in the museum. They are exhibited in an installation that will continue to grow, they sat at the centre of public events, and they are visible in this online presentation.
Many of the things you can see here are used in religious practices. Other things, instead, bear references to Muslim-influenced regions. After all, the everyday life of Muslims in Europe is not exclusively characterised by religion.
The objects can be tied to local Muslim minorities in Europe, to immigrant Muslims and to people who are read as Muslim but who may not describe themselves as Muslim. Despite common prevalent ideas about the “correct” religious practice, these objects indicate how religious life is organised individually. Thus, they partly show the diversity that defined and continues to define Muslim life in Europe.
All of the photographs show you part of the objects, inviting you to explore them further. They can be enlarged by clicking on them. The link to “Sammlungen Online” leads to a page with more elaborate information about the object (in German) and a photo of it in its entirety.
Quran amulet with geometric patterns and the words “al-qurān al-karīm” (the generous Quran). Inside of it is a miniature copy of the Quran. Amulets like this one are often worn for the protective function attributed to them, protecting its wearer against evil. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The amulet shows the stylised hand of Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. It promises the protection of Fatima and her family. The blue eyes on the hand and along the necklace are intended to protect the wearer from the evil eye, that is, from envy and jealousy. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The wooden amulet contains the prayer for a safe journey on one side. Amulets like this one are attached to the rear-view mirrors of cars, for example. The prayer for safe travels also is recited by some Muslims before setting off on a journey. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The call-to-prayer-clock (Azan clock, based on the Arabic ‘āḏān’ for call to prayer) made of golden plastic is decorated with a crescent moon and references to Mecca and Medina, the most important pilgrimage sites, in Arabic script. The alarm clock and compass determine the correct time and direction of prayer, especially for Muslims in places where no call to prayer can be heard. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This amulet is intended to protect the wearer from evil influences and desires with the help of the Divine. The scrolls kept inside the amulet contain verses from the Quran. Both sides of the amulet are decorated with Arabic script. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This amulet is intended to protect the wearer from evil influences and desires with the help of the Divine. The scrolls kept inside the amulet contain verses from the Quran. Both sides of the amulet are decorated with Arabic script. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This amulet is intended to protect the wearer from evil influences and desires with the help of the Divine. The scrolls kept inside the amulet contain verses from the Quran. Both sides of the amulet are decorated with Arabic script. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
Inside this cup is the so-called Throne Verse, an important, protective verse from the Quran. This is likely to be the reason for the water drunk from this cup having been attributed a protective function. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This cap for a boy is made of velvet. Applied to the cap’s front is the first part of the Islamic creed “There is no god but God”, which is the starting point for many Islamic beliefs and practices. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The Quran stand consists of two chipboard panels covered with a wood laminate and decorated with abstract patterns and the Arabic lettering ‘al-qurān al-karīm’ (the generous Quran). Quran stands like this one are used for reading and reciting the Quran, both privately and in mosques and religious education. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
Quran bags like these are clearly recognisable as being from a Muslim context. They are used to protect editions of the Quran from dirt and dust. According to Islamic belief, the Quran is considered to be the word of God. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The coffee pot made of metal is painted gold-silver and its handle is wrapped with imitation leather. Jugs of this type are used in contexts with religious connotations, for example at mourning ceremonies. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This lid is used to keep the rice dish pilaf (or pilaw, plow, polou, palau) both in shape and warm. It is richly decorated with patterns and Arabic script and was probably reserved for festive occasions. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This wooden beggar’s bowl, described as being Turkish, looks like the beggar’s bowls used by ascetics, who, dedicated to their strong faith in God, have renounced a worldly life and rely on the support of society. The design of the bowl and its use are linked to local Islamic religious practices. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This detail belongs to a flute (zurna) played in the south-eastern Europe and western Asia. Little is known about the zurna or its previous owner. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This aromatic oil called ‘Oudi’ was produced in the United Arab Emirates. According to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, scents are a thing on earth that he particularly loved. Scented oils like this one are especially applied before going to the mosque on Friday. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The inscription on this wooden board begins with an Arabic praise of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
Following a prophetic tradition, this toothbrush wood (miswak) is used to clean teeth. It may therefore have religious significance for its users. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The Islamic Creed is embroidered in Arabic script on the inner surface of the tapestry. It is the first and central tenet of the classical Islamic creed: belief in one God and the messenger Muhammad. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The graphic shows the first sura of the Quran (sūrat al-fātiḥa). It is one of the most frequently recited as it is recited several times in every ritual prayer and is also used on other religious occasions. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The graphic shows the last sura of the Quran (sūrat al-nās), which is one of the shorter suras and therefore usually one of the first to be memorised by Muslims. Along with Sura 113, it is also one of the (two) protective suras. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The booklet is designed to introduce Shia children to their faith and the fasting month of Ramadan. It includes stories, puzzles and a recipe for biscuits. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
On one side of this amulet is the verse from the throne, on the other the beginning of Sura Ya Sin. Both are said to be protective. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This amulet consists of a miniature version of the Quran. For Muslims, the Koran is the word of God, delivered to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. Such amulets are also said to have a protective function. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The nazar boncuk, or 'blue eye', originates from a non-Islamic idea of protection from evil eyes, i.e. envy and jealousy, but is now widespread in Muslim regions, especially in Turkey. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This is by the grace of my Lord' is written in Arabic on this wall decoration. The phrase is taken from a Quranic verse and expresses modesty, humility and gratitude for what God has given. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This magnet shows the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The city is the second most important place of pilgrimage for Muslims. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This bottle contains Zamzam water. Zamzam water has its source in Mecca and is said to have healing properties. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
Kohl is a powder for eye make-up. This one is enriched with Zamzam water from Mecca, and the packaging features the minarets of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. It meets the demand for products with links to the holy sites of Islam. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The name 'Fatima' is written on the inside of this key ring. It commemorates the daughter of Muhammad, one of the most important female figures in Islamic history and beliefs. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
Here you can see part of an incense set. Good scents can have a religious connotation for some Muslims, as it is said that the Prophet Muhammad held them in high esteem. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
Remembering God (dhikr) in repeated invocations is a widespread religious practice in Islamic contexts. As the number of invocations is usually important (33 or 99 times is preferred), Muslims use prayer chains with 99 beads or dhikr counters like this one. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
To enable Muslims to perform the ritual prayer flexibly wherever they are, there are portable prayer rugs like this one: light, easy to store and with a compass to determine the correct direction to pray - towards Mecca. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This book contains prayers in which Muslims ask God for help and support or express their gratitude. These prayers are an everyday religious practice. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This book is intended to provide Muslim children in the diaspora with prayers of supplication, i.e. prayers asking for protection or thanksgiving to God, for selected situations. The cover shows some of the situations covered in the book.© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This book contains the supplication recited on the tenth day of the month of Muharram (Ashura) for Husain, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and his companions as part of a Shia religious practice. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
This poster aims to teach the Arabic alphabet to children, especially those growing up in non-Arabic speaking and non-literate environments - giving them access to their religion.© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug
The book teaches the Shiite performance of the daily ritual prayer. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Europäischer Kulturen / Christian Krug