Aqiq

Aqiq is the Sirdabi word for gemstones belonging to the chalcedony family, especially but not limited to agate. Some other stones referred to as aqiq include carnelian, sard, jasper, marzite, chrysoprase, bloodstone, and onyx.

Although most varieties are not as rare as truly precious gems like emerald or ruby, aqiq stones are highly prized within Azadi culture for their association with the Prophet al-Azad and before him with such honored figures as Shamsar, the legendary ancient king of the Marzumite Yehani. Aqiq are often engraved with small symbols and calligraphic designs to make personal signet rings.

Types of Aqiq Stones

Name	Description	Primary Land of Origin	Rarity	Associations	Notes
Banded Aqiq	Multiple bright and earthy colors occurring in stripes, swirls, or bands.	Izendi Highlands, Zendizi Isles, Niyone, Zalawi	Common	Calm, meditation, focused energy.
Black Onyx	Black-and-white banded with parallel striations.	Marzum, Jalanjhur, Elukos	Rare	Balance, protection, deflection of the evil eye.
Bloodstone	Extremely deep green to nearly black with reddish inclusions like drops of blood.	Raziya, Rahoum	Rare	Longevity, endurance, protection from and healing of wounds.	Purported to have many magical properties, in addition to being able to stanch blood.
Blue Lace Aqiq	Pale bluish or purplish with wavy, lacy-looking banding.	Desert of Fallen Stars	Very Rare	Serenity, liberation of body, mind, and spirit.
Carnelian	Translucent rich reddish-brown, ranging from light orange to a very deep scarlet.	Jalanjhur, Irzal	Uncommon	Confidence, drive, energy, persistence.
Chrysoprase	Cyan or aqua to apple green.	Izendi Highlands	Rare	Physical and spiritual purification, fidelity, remembrance.	Also known as nirzalite and sometimes used in Nirzalite rituals.
Eaglestone	Fiery red and orange with a shimmering iridescent quality.	Irzal	Rare	Kingship, magnanimity, courage, daring.
Esiankite	Mottled green in various shades, sometimes mixed with smaller amounts of white or light brown.	Zalawi	Rare	Emotional balance, harmony.	Once also commonly used for rings and amulets in the early Kalentoi Empire.
Jasper	Usually a mottled or speckled red or orange, but can also be blue, yellow, green or even blue.	Jalanjhur, Amunat, Kuslovik, Zalawi, Ulamba	Common	Balance, stability, fertility.	Irzali name is yashum.
Marzite	Opaque red-violet, ranging from almost lilac to a dark plummy shade, most commonly somewhere in between.	Marzum	Rare	Wisdom, spirituality, kinship, protection from harm	Powder made from ground marzumite used as an antidote to poison.
Moss Aqiq	Milky white with filamentous or blotched green markings.	Marzum, Jalanjhur	Uncommon	Healing, protection while traveling.	Also known as nidrine aqiq.
Sard	Deep reddish-brown to chocolate brown to nearly black.	Jalanjhur, Irzal	Uncommon	Grounding, steadfastness, stoicism.
Sardonyx	Banded like black onyx, but reddish, brownish, or pinkish with white.	Marzum, Jalanjhur, Elukos	Uncommon	Eloquence, courage, protection during childbirth.
Snow Aqiq	White with very sparing black or dark grey striations.	Marzum	Uncommon	Spiritual insight, clarity, new beginnings, oneness with God

Aqiq Jewelry

Due to its strong traditional association with the Prophet al-Azad, aqiq jewelry is very common in the Sirdabi Caliphate, particularly in the eastern caliphate. Rings are the most common type of this jewelry, often worn on the right index finger by men and on the right middle finger by women. In this form they are frequently used as signets for marking the seal on private correspondence, contracts, and other documents. The band on this kind of ring is generally fashioned from silver, and while simple bands like that once worn by the Prophet are favored by the deeply devout, they can be seen quite elaborately worked as well. These more elaborate styles are particularly favored by Irzali. Less frequently than this, though still not uncommonly, aqiq may be set in pendants, bracelets, or anklets, or carried as a simple charm.

The aqiq stone itself is engraved with a small and usually simple image or symbol, with some personal monogram (a tughra), or with a calligraphic inscription usually drawn from one of the surahs of the perfected song. Marzites are the most sought after for aqiq jewelry, but each type of stone has its own particular properties or associations, and some families or clans may use a certain stone long associated with their lineage.

The First Aqiq Ring

The very first aqiq ring in the style of those worn by many Azadi today was that belonging to the Prophet al-Azad. His third wife Haleb had tried to bestow on him the marriage gift of an aqiq originally worn in the crown of her ancestor King Shamsar, a marzite engraved with the image of the moon-crowned fish eagle once used to symbolize Elu-Hani. When al-Azad turned this well-meant gift down due to its traditional Yehani imagery, Haleb grew upset and offended, her pride stung by this perceived slight to herself and her ancestry. Seeing this, the Prophet eventually relented -- but only on condition that the marzite should be engraved on its reverse side with the first line of the Surah of Oneness, and that it should be set within a ring with the original image turned to the ring's backing and out of view. Al-Azad told his bride-to-be that this would symbolize the overturning of the old ways and beliefs, while reaffirming the link between the first worshipers of the One God and those who now now knew It correctly as Annur, the illuminator of the now-Perfected Song. Haleb agreed to this request, having the stone worked and set as requested in a simple silver band, and so was the first aqiq ring devised.