Batik cloths such as this are generally known as ‘batik kaligrafi’ because they feature Islamic calligraphy as their main motif. This cloth has Islamic calligraphy written in neat diagonal lines in the background. In the foreground, there is the sword of Ali motif at the center of the cloth and at the four corners. Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and was an active military leader, taking part in almost all the battles fought in defense of the early Muslim community.Such calligraphic batik cloths are believed to have been used in a funerary context, serving as a ceremonial drape or a shroud cloth for a bier. This tradition is believed to be related to the Ottoman custom of placing calligraphic silk cloths over the tombs of their saints, holy men, great rulers, martyrs and soldiers.
