Sayings · Calligraphy and writing aesthetics in Islamic tradition

al-Sharif al-Radi (d. 406 AH) · Thaqalayn library edition, reproduced verbatim

2

Arabic text

٣١٥. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام) لِكَاتِبِهِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِى رَافِعٍ: أَلِقْ دَوَاتَكَ وَأَطِلْ جِلْفَةَ قَلَمِكَ وَفَرِّجْ بَيْنَ السُّطُورِ وَقَرْمِطْ بَيْنَ الْحُرُوفِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَجْدَرُ بِصَبَاحَةِ الْخَطِّ.

Original English translation

315. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said to his secretary ‘Ubaydullāh ibn Abī Rāfi‘: Put cotton flake in the ink-pot, keep the nib of your pen long, leave space between lines and close up the letters because this is good for the beauty of the writing.

Verified published translation — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.

Explain Related narrations Related versesSelect or long-press any passage for its tools

No licensed commentary edition has been cleared for reproduction, so the reader shows the text without it.

No licensed recording is connected, so none is offered.