A praise of calligraphy

Verses praising the practice of calligraphy written by calligrapher Muhammad Riza al-Din from 19th cent. Qajar era Iran. Around the border of the text panel, the calligrapher Muhammad Riza al-Din specifies that he wrote (katabahu) the verses in 1243/1828-9. He also states that the piece is written for his glory ('izz) and dignity (sharaf), if it is accepted (gar qabul aftad). Although Muhammad Riza al-Din is not known, he appears to have been a calligrapher in the nasta'liq style active in 19th-century Iran. Dimensions of Written Surface: 10.3 (w) x 19 (h) cm I have brought a small vow (for you to be like) Asaf of Jam / I have used garnet, ruby, and emerald / They have said that beautiful handwriting is better than garnet and gems / I have brought (you) a house-full of gems as an offering Qit'a nazr-i Asaf-i Jam iqtidar avarda-am / La'l u yaqut u zumurrud-ra bi-kar avarda-am / Khatt-i khush-ra bahtar az la'l u javahir gufta-and / Yak javahirkhana-ra bahr-i nisar avarda-am The poet describes a fragment of a vow to be similar to a fragment (qit'a) of calligraphy (khatt-i khush), and as a result this panel functions as an offering (nisar) as precious as all the gems in the world. The blue border decorated with flecks of gold serves as a visual echo to the poem's contents. This calligraphic fragment includes several verses praising the practice of calligraphy. Beginning with an invocation of "God, the Great" (Allahu Akbar), the verses then read: Script: nasta'liq 1-04-713.19.51