Thread by @BaytAlFann

Gems have a special place in Islam. Some precious stones such as rubies, pearls & coral are mentioned in the Quran. Tradition has it that prominent figures in Islamic history wore different stones to help them

Here are 20 examples of precious gems & stones as amulets

A thread…

1/ Agate Amulet
mid-18th century

In Iran agate is regarded as a stone with healing properties. This oval-shaped pendant features a selection from the Asma’ al-Husna (the 99 beautiful names of God) at the center, surrounded by the sura Ya Sin (sura 36) from the Qur’an
@metmuseum

2/ Oval bezel amulet from a bracelet,
Mughal Period (17th-18th century)

Inscribed with the Throne verse (Ayat Al Kursi) for protection.
Carnelian stone which is believed to be good luck, incised; jade setting, inlaid with gold & inset with emeralds & rubies
@AshmoleanMuseum

3/ Amulet Pendant, Agra, India
1610-20

This amulet was the central pendant of a necklace. It has very intricate details & the eyes of the birds are tiny emeralds inlaid in gold. The back is inscribed with a verse from the Koran. Perhaps made for Emperor Jahangir

@V_and_A

4/ White chalcedony amulet, Iran
1748

Heart-shaped, flat top and base with straight sides. Cursive Arabic inscriptions - read the translation here britishmuseum.org/collection/obj…

Chalcedony has the power to soothe self-doubt and bring inner peace to the wearer.
@britishmuseum

5/ Cut, engraved spinel, India
1600

A red precious stone that is softer than a ruby. It was mined in northern Afghanistan. The engraved inscriptions on this show that it belonged to the Mughal emperors Jahangir & Shah Jahan. Spinel is believed to aid healing

David Collection

6/ Turban Ornament, Balkans or Turkey
19th century

This turban is inlaid with turquoise stones. Turquoise is believed by many to have healing properties, repelling negative energy & the evil eye. This is an object of beauty as well as perhaps being worn for positivity
@metmuseum

7/ Amulet, Delhi, India

Fashioned in white nephrite jade & inset with gold and gems. The nephrite came from Xinjiang & has been used for artefacts made for the Mughal court from the early 17th century. Some believe nephrite jade brings its wearer abundance & good luck

@V_and_A

8/ Amulet, Iran
Safavid dynasty, 17th c

Engraved chalcedony. Some believe chalcedony is a nurturing stone that promotes and aids unity and good will. It absorbs negative energy.

@britishmuseum

9/ The Mogul Mughal, India
1695-1696

One of the world’s largest emeralds, rectangular-cut, weighing 217.80 carats. Carved with a Shi`ite invocation. The color green is believed to be the holy color of Islam and Islamic tradition includes several references to emeralds

@MIAQatar

10/ Amulet pendant, India
1631-32

White jade pendant with calligraphic inscriptions in nastaliq script, detailing the title of Shah Jahan. Inscriptions are Qur’an II, 255 & Qur’an XXIII, 97-98; XII, parts of 64. White jade is believed by some to have healing properties
@MIAQatar

11/ Imperial Turquoise Talisman, Iran
1915

Emperor Franz Joseph I was given this talisman by Mehdi Gassem, a Persian turquoise cutter living in Vienna, inscribed with an Islamic prayer in Persian. It was a tradition to engrave Turquoise gemstones.

Natural History Museum Vienna

12/ Carnelian Ring, Iran
9th–11th c

According to al-Biruni, an 11th-century polymath who wrote an important treatise on gemstones, carnelian provided courage in battle & cease hemorrhaging on the body. Excavated at Nishapur, this ring would have served as a talisman
@metmuseum

13/ Amulet holding a miniature Quran, India
1700 - 1800

A rectangular box of turquoise enamelled gold inlaid with diamonds & rubies, and enamelled green on the back. Holds a leather bound miniature Quran manuscript. Said to belong to wife of the last of the Mughal Emperors
@RCT

14/ Amulet, Iran
20th century

Made of Persian green jade (yashm-e sabz), probably by an artisan of the Bakhtiari tribes in the 1930s. The amulet might have been used as a protection necklace (gardanband) or breast pendant (sineh aviz) to protect babies.

@maasmuseum

15/ Oval bezel carnelian amulet from a bracelet with naskhi inscription, India
18th - 19th century

Carnelian stones attract good luck, abundance, and prosperity. This amulet bracelet would have been worn to bring good luck.
@AshmoleanMuseum

16/ Rectangular bezel amulet, Iran / India
18th - 19th century (1701 - 1900)

Inscribed with the Throne verse (Ayat Al Kursi) from the holy Qur’an for protection. Uncrystallized quartzite. Some people believe quartzite stabilises positive energy.
@AshmoleanMuseum

17/ Emerald & Pearl Necklace, India
16th-19th century

The word pearl is mentioned 6 times in the Qur’an in relation to heaven. Pearls represent wisdom of experience.
From the Al Thani collection.
@V_and_A

18/ Amulet, India
Mughal, late 18th or early 19th century

According to William Tayler, who bought it in India, it was deemed to protect the wearer from harm or misfortune - in this case "against palpitation of the heart". White nephrite jade then inset with gold & gem
@V_and_A

19/ Oval amulet with Sura, Turkey
Ottoman
17th–18th c.

Carnelian amulet made of white and red garnet, bordered with a line from the Throne verse (Ayat Al Kursi) from the Qur’an for protection. Carnelian is believed by some to provided courage

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Austria

20/ Mogul Emerald Necklace / Amulet
16-19th c.

Carved gemstones like this were worn on the arm as amulets.
This emerald is surrounded by diamonds & is suspended from a diamond necklace A hallmark indicates that it was set into the pendant & necklace in France in 20th c.
@NMNH