Copy of rare Nahj-ul-Balagha manuscript unveiled

TEHRAN,Sept.29(MNA) – A Copy of a Qajar-era (1796-1925) manuscript of Nahj-ul-Balagha of Imam Ali (AS) was unveiled during a ceremony held at Tehran’s Milad Tower on Thursday. The original version of Nahj-ul-Balagha has been inscribed by Mohammad Hossein ibn Ali Askar Arsanjani in the naskh style of calligraphy and illuminated by Mahmud Mozahheb-Bashi. The copy has been compiled under the supervision of calligraphy master Mojtaba Sabzeh and was published by Farhizesh Publications, Persian news agencies reported on Friday. Nahj-ul-Balagha was first compiled by Sharif Radi known in Persian as Seyyed Razi, who divided the work into three sections containing the speeches, letters, and short sayings of Imam Ali (AS). The volume includes letters written to Malik al-Ashtar, a loyal companion of Imam Ali (AS) and the Governor of Egypt. The unveiling ceremony took place in the presence of Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini, and director of the Nahj-ul-Balagha International Foundation Hojjatoleslam Jamaleddin Dinparvar. In addition, master of calligraphy Gholamhossein Amirkhani and actor Dariush Arjomand, who had played the role of Malik al-Ashtar in the TV series “Imam Ali (AS)” by director Davud Mirbaqeri, attended the ceremony. The copy contains a preface written by master of nastaliq style of calligraphy Amirkhani, in which he has regarded publication of the book a good opportunity for students of calligraphy, miniature, and illumination.