To mark the death of a sultan, most of the deceased’s clothing was tagged and stored away; other pieces were kept in his tomb. Brocaded silks, inscribed with verses from the Koran in a distinct zigzag pattern, frequently were draped over the sarcophagus.
The new sultan, usually the son of the deceased, presided over the ceremony wearing an unadorned robe made of satin or mohair in the preferred colors for mourning: black, deep blue, or purple. He wore the same robe for his accession ceremony, which followed immediately to assure smooth succession to the throne and to fend off any possible dissension.