Examining the authenticity of Medad al-Khotout treatise attributed to Mir Ali Heravi in comparison with Khat va Savad treatise by Majnoun Rafiqi Heravi

Mir Ali Heravi (died in 1545) is one of the greatest masters in Nasta’liq script who was famous and popular while he was alive among Uzbek, Indian and Ottoman governors. Majnoun Rafiqi is also one of the poets and calligraphers who is contemporary with Mir Ali and has written three treatises about teaching calligraphy. He was famous in his own period of time but since he did not have well-known works, his popularity has decreased over time. Attributing ancient treatises about teaching calligraphy to celebrities has a long duration. For instance, attributing Adab al-Mashq treatise by Baba Shah Isfahani to Mir Emad Qazvini. Khat va Savad treatise by Majnoun Rafiqi has been attributed to Mir Ali because of his universal popularity after Safavid. This attribution caused contemporary researchers think that there is a treatise named Medad al-Khotout by Mir Ali Heravi and this mistake has been repeated in many researches by Islamic art scholars. According to the comparative study of these two treatises and also documentary sources related to the end of Timurid and beginning of Safavid era, this article has talked about non-attribution of this treatise to Mir Ali Heravi.