Replica of Zülfikar / saber with scabbard, Ottoman. 18th-19th Century. Blade iron, damasks, goldtauschiert, forged iron handle, goldtauschiert, Gehilze horn, carved, wooden scabbard covered with velvet, Forged iron, wrought, burnished, goldtauschiert. Total length 90.2 cm blade 78.3 cm Weight 615 g. Y 0366. Armoury. © Dresden State Art Collections 2013

This sword is a replica of Zülfikar, one of the eight legendary swords of the Prophet Muhammad, which he captured in the Battle of Badr in 624th Multiple gave Muhammad the Zülfikar to his son Ali when it moved to the head of the Muslim warriors into battle. It was in early Islamic times the hero and symbol after the death of Muhammad in one of several symbols of the legitimacy of later rulers. Probably the real Zülfikar was destroyed by the Mongols in 1258 when taking Baghdad, so that replicas were in his place. Ali and the Zülfikar were glorified in the Ottoman period by the Dervishes and were very respected among the Janissaries. This replica of the Zülfikar, split the blade in the longitudinal direction and is therefore completely useless likely to be incurred in connection with the annual Shia passion play held in remembrance of the events of Karbala. In Karbala Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet and son of Ali, was killed by the Umayyads, the resulting probably came into the possession of the Zülfikar.