Qal'i Sword

FB : Sungai Batu 788 B.C : The Great Kingdom of Kedah Tua

This sword is known as "Qal'i" or "Qul'ay." The name may be related to a place in Syria or a place in India near China. Other scholars state that the adjective "qal'i" refers to "tin" or "white lead" which was mined in different locations.

This sword is one of the three swords which the prophet Muhammad acquired as booty from the Banu Qaynaqa. It is also reported that the grandfather of the prophet Muhammad discovered "swords of Qal'i" when he uncovered the Well of Zamzam in Mecca.

Today the sword is preserved in the Topkapi Museum, Istanbul. Its blade is 100 cm in length. Inscribed in Arabic on its blade above the handle is:

"This is the noble sword of the house of Muhammad the prophet, the apostle of God."

The blade of this sword is distinguished from the other swords because of its wave-like design. Photograph taken from Muhammad Hasan Muhammad al-Tihami, Suyuf al-Rasul wa 'uddah harbi-hi (Cairo: Hijr, 1312/1992).

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The above paragraphs was taken from United States Naval Academy website. A preview of 9 swords belong to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Eight out of nine swords, currently kept by Topkapi Museum. At least , all of the sword aged 1400 years.

The first thing that catch our attention about this swords was the word Qal'i. Secondly, India near China and lastly, was about tin.

For those who did follow our past postings, may have captured what we are going to explain.

We go straight to the point. But for those who have a doubt at the end of this posting, we suggest to refer to our past posting where we had brought the scholarly evidences.

Firstly, "Qal'i.(sounds Qal-ee)". From the arabic letters, Qaf ق , Lam ل , Ain ع, Ya ي . For those who can read arabic, will noticed that it can also be pronounce Qala'i (sounds Qala-ee). As we know, Qala'i was a sword made by a place name Qalah or Kalah. Kalah was a given name by the Arabs to Kedah.

Secondly, "India near China". The orientalist of the past, used to translate al-Hind as India. A direct translation, without considering the origin and context. Al-Hind, was an Arabic word which referred to the maritime, not mainland. It meant the insular of Indian Ocean. South East Asia located at the edge of Indian Ocean, and it was called al-Hind. Therefore, India near China, was the maritime area that halfway near to China. Kalah was always considered as halfway to the east or to the west.

Finally, "tin" . Tin was a commodity that synonimous to Malaysia. Malay Peninsular has abundance of tin , and was the largest exporter in the world until 1980's. Tin was mined for more than 2000 years in Malay Peninsular, especially in Kelang. Hence, the qal'i refers to tin, we have no doubt it was referred to the tin that had been mined in Malay Peninsular, where Kalah was located.

For additional point, sword from Kalah was the best three in middle east trade , if not the best sword, prior and after Prophet Muhammad, as documented by scholars based on past explorers records.

The description by the museum indicate that it has a wave-like shape. If we examine the pictures, the wavy was not at the edge, but on the surface.

Based on all three evidences, we have provide a solid and clear arguments that Qal'i was a Qala'i sword made of Qalah or Kalah, the current state of Kedah. Where else we can find a combination of those three points (Qalah, halfway near to China and tin) in a single place other than Kedah Tua.

It is almost impossible to obtain a scientific proof, which requires a lot of bureaucrat process and inter government affair. Unless it carries an important breakthrough for the custodian country or museum.

In the history of the Prophet Muhammad, it was narrated, when the Muslim army defeated the Jews of Bani Qainuqa in 623 AD, among other things they left behind were the Qala'i sword. The Prophet chose by himself the sword as booty and said "Our sword are from Qala'ah (Qalah/Kalah)"

These was an important chapter in profiling the legendary Qala'i sword. The sword made by the people of Kalah, Kedah Tua, was stated in Hadith.

(As to answer the question raised in the previous posting pertaining the steel, at the moment there are no signs of steel production at Sg Batu.)

Copy and paste: 21/12/2019: 2.51 pm