Qur'anic verses

Qur'anic verses written in the Naskh script by Persian calligrapher Muhammad Riza Tabataba'I in 19th Cent. Iran. Dimensions of Written Surface: 11.7 (w) x 10.8 (h) cm Perish the hands of the Father of Flames, perish he. / No profit to him from all his wealth and all his gains. / Burned soon will he be in a fire of blazing flame. / His wife will carry the crackling wood as fuel, / A twisted rope of palm leaf fiber around her own neck. The surah is brought to an end by the artist's signature in the lower left corner. The calligrapher's name, Muhammad Riza Tabataba('i), strongly suggests that he was a Shi'i Persian calligrapher who traced his lineage back to Tabataba, the great-great grandson of 'Ali. Although he has not dated his work, calligraphic sheets pasted onto cardboard panels similar to this one were executed in Persian naskh script during the first half of the 19th century in Iran (see 1-86-154.136). Such panels were intended as wall decoration in private homes or as calligraphic exercises. This calligraphic panel includes the bismillah at the top, followed by the Qur'an's 111th surah entitled al-Masad (The Plaited Rope), also known as al-Lahab (The Flame). This chapter contains five verses, all of which are included on the panel. This very early Meccan surah stresses that cruelty ultimately ruins itself, while angry men and their wives perish in their own rage: This particular calligraphic sheet includes cloud bands painted in a light brown wash and decorated with black vines and red flowers. Pasted onto a cardboard, it was later provided with green and pink paper margins. Script: naskh 1-84-154.14