Farhang Shirazi

Farhang Shirazi, Mirza Abu al-Qasim (1826-1891), son of Muhammad Shafi’ Wisal. A calligrapher, belletrist, writer, and poet with the nom de plume Farhang. Born in Shiraz, he learned mathematics and belles-lettres in early youth. He took up the study of geomancy and making amulets. Farhang studied French at the suggestion of Qa’ani, the celebrated poet. A master of poetry and rhetoric, he wrote in the seven calligraphic scrips, particularly the Thulth, elegantly. He died in Shiraz and was laid to rest at the Shrine of Sayyid Mir Muhammad, the brother of Shah Chiragh. A manuscript copy of Rashid Watwat’s Hada’iq al-Sihr in his hand in elegant Naskh and Shikasta is extant. His works include a commentary of Rashid Watwat’s Hada’iq al-Sihr on the model of Nizami ‘Aruzi’s Chahar Maqala, running to more than 15,000 couplets; a dictionary entitled Farhang-i Farhang, including frequently used Persian, Arabic, and Turkish words; a satirical treatise under the title of Tibb al-Bulh, also known as Sikanjibiniyya; a commentary on and a translation of Bari’ on astronomy, running to 10,000 couplets; divan of poetry in about 12,000 Persian and Arabic couplets.

Danishmandan va Sukhansarayan-i Fars (4, 131-135).