The Order (Plate 96, No. 6) is under the special patronage of the Sultan, and has five classes, the number of the respective native members being limited to fifty, one hundred and fifty, eight hundred, three thousand, and six thousand.
The badge consists of a silver sun with seven rays or points, between which are inserted the Turkish arms, star and crescent. The middle shield, which rests upon the sun, and is for the first four classes, of gold, bears upon red enamelled ground the legend, in the vernacular tongue: 'Zeal, decoration, loyalty,' and also '1268' (1852) the year of the foundation of the Order, and in the centre, the name of the Sultan. The size of the decoration, though it diminishes with every descending class, is, nevertheless, rather smaller with the second than with the third class, owing no doubt, to the additional star which is worn upon the right breast by the latter class, in the same way as it is worn by the first class upon the left breast in a larger size. This star is almost similar to the badge. The first three classes suspend the decoration round the neck by a red ribbon with green borders, and the two inferior classes wear it upon the left side of the breast by a similar ribbon.
No one can be proposed as a candidate who has not eminently served the state, for at least twenty years, either in the army, the law (Ulema), or some civil department. Military service in time of war does not require that long term of years, nor are very distinguished services bound by it. The entrance into the Order begins with the lowest class, and the gradual promotion depends on new services, and only after an interval of two years in the fifth class, three years in the third and fourth classes, and four years in the second class.
The board or council, which meets once a month for despatch of business, consists of a president elected from the first class, and six members, (two from each of the three next classes).
