Verses on the permanence of good deeds

Persian poetry verses by the poet Hafiz (d. 791/1388-9) on "the futility of worldly goods," written calligrapher, Muhammad Husayn al-Kashmiri from India in the black Nasta'liq script. Dimensions of Written Surface: 21 (w) x 11.2 (h) cm In the lower right corner appears the name of the calligrapher, Muhammad Husayn al-Kashmiri. Originally from Kashmir, he became a pupil of Mir 'Ali Heravi (Huart 1972, 248; and see 1-88-154.65) and then joined the imperial book atelier of the Mughal emperor Akbar (r. 1556-1605) in Agra. There, Muhammad Husayn al-Kashmiri was responsible for transcribing a royal copy of Amir Khusraw Dihlavi's Khamsah (Quintet) in 1595-8 (now in the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore). Other calligraphic specimens -- including one dated 988/1580 in the Shrine of Imam Riza in Mashhad (Mehdi Zadeh and Razzaghi 1369/1950: 32-33) -- suggest that this fragment in the Library of Congress was executed ca. 1575-1600 in India. Oh wealthy one, soothe the heart of the indigent / Because the treasury of gold, riches, and coins will not remain / On this topaz canopy (the sky) they have inscribed in gold / That nothing will remain except the good deeds of the generous ones Tavangara dil-i darvish-ra bi-dast avar / Ka makhzan-i zar u ganj u diram nakhwahad mand / Bar in rivaq-i zabarjat navashta-and bi-zar / Ka juz' niku'i-yi ahl-i karam nakhwahad mand The verses are executed in black nasta'liq script on blue paper and outlined in cloud bands on a lavishly illuminated background. Between the two bayts of poetry appear illuminated triangles (or thumb pieces), which fill in the interim space created by the intersection of the diagonal lines of text and the rectangular frame. This calligraphic fragment includes verses composed by the celebrated Persian poet Hafiz (d. 791/1388-9) on the futility of worldly goods. Beginning with a praise of God, the Unique (huwa al-fard), in the upper left corner, the verses continue: Script: nasta'liq 1-2002-154