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The monks of Mount Sinai Monastery requested a copy of the “decree” (Ahdname) issued by Mohamed, Prophet of Islam in the Hegira year 2 (623), from the religious court in 1569, translated from Arabic to Turkish. The Arabic original had been retained by Sultan Selim, and is now kept at the sultan’s treasury in Constantinople. The decree lists the rights and privileges of Christians and particularly of the monks who live in Muslim lands. The main disciples of Mohamed were present as witnesses. The document is in the form of a religious court ruling, and was issued in December 1638.


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53 Χ 84 cm

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