Manuscript/Mixed Material Id (feast day) prayer for good fortune
About this Item
Title
- Id (feast day) prayer for good fortune
Names
- Agha Muhammad 'Ali
Created / Published
- 18th-19th centuries
Headings
- - Calligraphy, Arabic
- - Calligraphy, Persian
- - Manuscripts, Persian--Washington (D.C.)
- - India
- - Calligraphy, Indian
- - Arabic script calligraphy
- - Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
- - Indian naskh
- - Islamic calligraphy
- - Islamic manuscripts
Notes
- - Two bayts (verses) wishing prosperity on the occasion of an 'id (Nowruz), written in Indian naskh script by calligrapher Agha Muhammad 'Ali in India.
- - Dimensions of Written Surface: 17.9 (w) x 32.9 (h) cm
- - 'id shud jashn-i nu mubarak bad / taj-i dawlat tura bi-tarak bad / hafiz u nasirat bi-har du jahan / sura-yi fath ba tabarak bad
- - In the lower left corner appears the calligrapher's signature, which reads: mashaqahu al-faqir (written by the poor) Agha Muhammad 'Ali (or Muhammad 'Ali Agha). Part of the signature -- along with the last word (bad) of the poem's final verse -- has been filled in later, since a part of the original calligraphy was lost or damaged.
- - In this prayer probably written for the celebration of the New Year ('Id-i Noruz), a patron is wished protection through two Qur'anic chapters, namely Surat al-Fath (Victory, Qur'an 48) and Surat Tabarak (Blessing), otherwise known as Surat al-Mulk (The Kingdom, Qur'an 67). These two verses of the Qur'an are known for their apotropaic and protective powers, and thus are appropriate in a prayer wishing success and well-being.
- - It is 'id, congratulations on the new celebration / May the crown of fortune be your summit / May the Chapters of Victory and Blessing / Be your protectors and supporters in both worlds.
- - Muhammad 'Ali is otherwise unrecorded. However, judging from the fragment's script and theme (e.g., 1-04-713.19.3, 1-04-713.19.49, 1-04-713.19.48, and 1-84-154.51), it is possible to suggest that this piece was executed in India sometime during the 18th or 19th century as a New Year's gift to an eminent patron.
- - The verses are executed in Indian naskh script in dark brown ink and are framed by cloud bands on a background painted with a light brown wash. Each bayt is executed in diagonal and contained in a separate rectangular frame. The whole of the text frame has been pasted to a larger sheet of beige paper backed by cardboard.
- - This calligraphic fragment includes two bayts (verses) wishing its owner prosperity and happiness on the occasion of an 'id.
- - Script: Indian naskh
- - 1-85-154.99
Medium
- 1 volume ; 27.8 (w) x 43.4 (h) cm
Repository
- Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Digital Id
Library of Congress Control Number
- 2019714631
Online Format
- image