Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The Aga Khan Museum holds two large steel Muharram processional standards (‘alams), likely produced in 16th–17th century Deccan Shi‘i India and showing strong Safavid Iranian influences. Featuring stylized protective dragons, the two standards would have topped staffs in azadari Ashura (10 Muharram) processions commemorating Imam Husayn’s martyrdom at Karbala in 680 CE. The first standard, AKM679, is a typical teardrop-shaped ‘alam displaying Imam ‘Ali’s bifurcated sword Zulfikar and a mirrored (muthanna) calligraphic invocation. The second standard, AKM620, is strikingly large and multi-lobed, and it includes surat al-ikhlas (Qur’an 112). This talk examines the symbolism of these ‘alams as well as Shi‘i Muharram processions across time and global borders.
The Aga Khan Museum holds two large steel Muharram processional standards (‘alams), likely produced in 16th–17th century Deccan Shi‘i India and showing strong Safavid Iranian influences. Featuring stylized protective dragons, the two standards would have topped staffs in azadari Ashura (10 Muharram) processions commemorating Imam Husayn’s martyrdom at Karbala in 680 CE. The first standard, AKM679, is a typical teardrop-shaped ‘alam displaying Imam ‘Ali’s bifurcated sword Zulfikar and a mirrored (muthanna) calligraphic invocation. The second standard, AKM620, is strikingly large and multi-lobed, and it includes surat al-ikhlas (Qur’an 112). This talk examines the symbolism of these ‘alams as well as Shi‘i Muharram processions across time and global borders.
