Id (feast day) Quatrain

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