Note about the construction of a takiyah-khanah

Shi'i passion plays (ta'ziyah) reenacting the tragic events at Karbalah in 680. Persian in Nasta'liq script from 20th century Iran or India. Dimensions of Written Surface: 67.4 (w) x 95.5 (h) cm For an in-depth study of Shi'i passion plays (ta'ziyah), see Peter Chelkowski, "Ta'ziyeh: Ritual and Drama in Iran" (New York: NYU Press, 1979). Satta zamana Muhammad 'Ali bana farmud / Imam barapay dhikr va majlis-i Hasanayn / Za ruya ah dilam khwand nuha ta'rikh / Bana-yi ta'ziya va matam-i Imam Husayn. These lines specify that a certain Muhammad 'Ali ordered the construction of a building intended for the commemorations (dhikr) services and mourning (matam) ceremonies of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn. Such a building is called a takiyah or takiyah-khanah, and was used for the staging of Shi'i passion plays (ta'ziyah) reenacting the tragic events at Karbalah in 680. Takiyahs were built by Shi'i communities in Iran and India during the 19th and 20th centuries. For example, one of the most famous takiyahs was ordered built by Mu'avin al-Mulk in Kermanshah (southwestern Iran) in 1313/1895-6. A lavishly decorated and multipart complex, it was constructed for a variety of religious events and performances linked to Imam Husayn's martyrdom. This large piece of paper, constructed of a number of separate sheets pasted together, includes four lines of writing in nasta'liq script. At the top appears the number 786, which in the abjab (letter number) system is equivalent to sum total of the letters appearing in the bismillah. In other words, the number 786 at the top of the page functions as an initial praise of God, the Merciful, the Beneficient, immediately before the text's main contents. The four lines immediately below read: Script: nasta'liq 1-85-154.85