Midād al-Khutūṭ: A Fictitious Treatise Ascribed to Mīr ʿAlī Hiraw

As a famous treatise in teaching calligraphy, “Midād al-Khutūṭ” has been frequently used and referred to by contemporary scholars and calligraphers as a result of being a work ascribed to Mīr-‘Alī Hirawī, the prominent Persian calligrapher. The present essay would test the authenticity of such a work and reassess this treatise’s status in the history of calligraphy. The results indicate that “Midād al-Khutūṭ” is not a genuine treatise and not a work by Mīr-‘Alī Hirawī, but a poor, disorderly adaptation of other treatises in calligraphy. The major part of this work has been taken from “Savād al-Khaṭ” by Majnūn Rafīḳī Hirawī, mingled with some notes and subject matters from other treatises, including “Rasm al-Khaṭ” by Majnun Rafiḳi Hirawī, “Usūl-i Khaṭ” by ‘Abd Allāh Ṣayrafī and “Usūl wa Ḳawā’id-i Khuṭūṭ-i Sitta” by Fath Allāh Sabziwāri. Belief in the authenticity of “Midād al-Khutūṭ” treatise has brought about some false evaluations and analyses, especially of Mīr ʿAlī Hirawī’s and Sulṭān ῾Ali Mashhadi life and career by scholars in the field of calligraphy.