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" explores some of these artefacts and also examines the history of the institution. As part of the process, various objects and stories find a new place in the museum. They are exhibited in an installation that will continue to grow, they will sit 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