Talismanic shirt

A talismanic shirt (or talisman shirt; Turkish: tılsımlı gömlek; Persian: پیراهن طلسمات, romanized: pirâhan telesmat) is a worn textile talisman. Talismanic shirts are found throughout the Muslim world. The shirts can be grouped to four types which differ in style and the symbols used: an Ottoman, a Safavid, a Mughal and a West African one.^[1]

The earliest surviving examples were made approximately in 15th century,^[1] though the tradition of talismanic shirts might be much older. In Surah Yusuf of the Quran, a shirt of the prophet Joseph is described as giving him protection and even miracle-working. He hands it over so it can heal the blindness of his father Jacob: "Go with this my shirt, and cast it over the face of my father: he will come to see"^{[Quran 12:93]}.

The shirts may be inscribed with verses from Quran, names of Allah and of prophets and with numbers. They may carry images or symbols, e.g. astrological ones. The inscribed names are believed to be capable of offering protection and guidance to the carrier.^[2] Although talismanic shirts can be worn to protect against many evils most of them seem to be intended as a shield in battle.^[1]