The Ilkhanid Wooden Door of the Masjid-i Ali in Quhrud: Analysis of the Inscriptions, the Qadamdahi Nature of the Mosque, Introducing the Patron and Identifying the Artist

The village of Quhrud in the mountainous area of Kashan has two historical mosques, ‘Ali and Kallah, both from the Ilkhanid period. Among these, Masjid-i ‘Ali is of considerable significance due to the presence of hundreds of lustre star tiles and an exquisite wooden door dated 700AH. The unique Ilkhanid door of the mosque has thirteen inscriptions in Persian and Arabic languages, and the background of the writings and the leaves of the door are decorated with vegetal and geometric motifs. This paper tries to answer the questions of what is the content of the inscriptions on the door and what image does it give of the religious, cultural and historical situation of Kashan region at that time? Thus, while analyzing the content of all the inscriptions of the door, the patron of the mosque, ‘Abd al-Wahid, and the artist, Muhammad Naqqar Isfahani and some of his other works have been introduced. In one of the inscriptions, the patron talks about a dream in which Imam ‘Ali ordered the construction of the mosque. This Shiite theme has a remarkable resemblance with the inscription of the Ilkhanid lustre tile of Qadamgah-i ‘Ali in Kashan. Unlike the latter inscription, which tends towards the religious Shiism, the text of the Quhrud door shows devotion to Imam ‘Ali and the Prophet’s family. However, these tendencies have finally led to a belief in later periods. Finally, this door can be interprated as an important document of the founder’s feelings, motivations and religious and moral tendencies.