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Manuscript/Mixed Material Id (feast day) Quatrain

About this Item

Title

  • Id (feast day) Quatrain

Names

  • Muhammad Qamar al-Din

Created / Published

  • 16th-17th centuries

Headings

  • -  Calligraphy, Arabic
  • -  Calligraphy, Persian
  • -  Manuscripts, Persian--Washington (D.C.)
  • -  Iran
  • -  Arabic script calligraphy
  • -  Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Islamic calligraphy
  • -  Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Nasta'liq

Notes

  • -  Id (feast day) Quatrain in celebration of 'id al-qurban or 'id al-adha (the feast of sacrifice), Persian poem written in Nasta'liq script by the calligrapher Muhammad Qamar al-Din from 19th Cent. Qajar era Iran.
  • -  Dimensions of Written Surface: 8.3 (w) 16.2 (h) cm
  • -  In as much as 'id is the month of blessings / And makes pilgrims (go) to 'Arafat / Like sacrificial sheep, / May all your enemies be in the "Direction of Pilgrims"
  • -  Other poems written for rulers during the celebrations of pilgrimage or to usher in the New Year are held in the Collections of the Library of Congress. See 1-04-713.19.3, 1-04-713.19.48, 1-04-713.19.49, and 1-84-154.51).
  • -  Ta dahad-i 'id maya-yi barakat / hajiyan-ra surur dar 'arafat / Bad chun gusfand-i qurbani / Jumla-yi a'ada-yi qibla-yi hajat
  • -  The poem's imagery revolves around the activities linked to the celebrations of 'id al-qurban or 'id al-adha (the feast of sacrifice), which marks the end of the pilgrimage rites on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijja. Drawing on the symbolism of the direction of prayer (qibla), the poet describes a ruler as the "Direction of Pilgrims" and wishes him the defeat of his enemies. These lines were probably written on 'id al-qurban in order to eulogize a patron, as they draw on the metaphorical potential of religious activities taking place at that time.
  • -  The text is framed by cloud bands executed in black ink and highlighted with gold paint, around which a blue frame with interlacing gold vine motifs has been pasted somewhat sloppily. The poem reads:
  • -  This calligraphic fragment provides an iambic pentameter quatrain, or ruba'i, written in nasta'liq script by the calligrapher Muhammad Qamar al-Din. In the top right corner, he has stated that the piece was either written by himself or copied for himself ("li-raqamihi"). He also has signed the quatrain in the lower left corner with the expression "katabahu (written by) Muhammad Qamar al-Din." Nothing is known about this calligrapher, although the steady nasta'liq script suggests that it was executed in Persia (Iran) sometime during the 16th or 17th century.
  • -  Script: nasta'liq
  • -  1-04-713.19.53

Medium

  • 1 volume ; 24.2 (w) x 35 (h) cm

Repository

  • Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2019714558

Online Format

  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The contents of the Library of Congress Selections of Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Calligraphy are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions and are free to use and reuse.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, African and Middle East Division, Near East Section Persian Manuscript Collection

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Muhammad Qamar Al-Din. Idfeast day Quatrain. 16th-17th Centuries. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714558/.

APA citation style:

Muhammad Qamar Al-Din. Idfeast day Quatrain. 16th-17th Centuries. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714558/.

MLA citation style:

Muhammad Qamar Al-Din. Idfeast day Quatrain. 16th-17th Centuries. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2019714558/>.