In early modernity, the Ottoman Empire was in a period of great friction and change. Both internally and externally, questions of religious identity were influencing how the empire presented itself. In light of these tensions the Ottomans focused on establishing legitimacy as rightful inheritors of Islamic heritage and authority. With this new aim, the Prophet Muhammad became the fulcrum in a wider project of Sunnitization, or the use of Sunnism to consolidate empire and subjects under a common understanding of Islam. As a result, this period played host to the development of new art forms and a renewed interest in relics to reconnect with the Prophet of Islam. This is best exemplified by the production of hilyes, or verbal icons of the Prophet Muhammad, and reliquaries that repackaged Islamic heritage into relevant contemporary formats. These art forms are connected as part of a visual vocabulary used to transcribe the Prophet's likeness as opposed to presenting it outright. Rather than illustrating literal depictions of the Prophet, words and standardized compositions were utilized to convey the Prophet's image in a more timeless manner. This paper elaborates on the nexus between Islamic past and Ottoman present in early modernity. It aims to shed light on how visual and verbal innovations were used to legitimize the Ottomans and present them as rightful custodians of Islamic heritage.