Riyaz Hamadani

Riyaz Hamadani, Mirza Ja’far (d. 1851), a calligrapher, poet, and writer born in Hamadan. He studied with Abu al-Qasim Dhu ‘l-Riyasatayn, but after the latter’s death, departed for Tehran where he led a secluded life for a while, but he was later patronized by Amir Kabir. He fell sick after Amir Kabir’s death and died in his youth. Riyaz was a poet and belletrist under the Qajar Muhammad Shah and Nasir al-Din Shah. He authored séances (maqamat) on the model of Badi’ al-Zaman and Hamid al-Din Balkhi. He also composed Ganj-i Shayigan in which he used as his model Sa’di’s Gulistan and Qa’ani’s Parishan. Her composed poetry in Persian and Arabic and was well-versed in astronomy, geometry, and arithmetic, and had reportedly written a treatise on music. He also wrote the Naskhi and the Shikasta scripts in an elegant hand. His works include his Ghazaliyat; Alf Layla; and Divan.

Asar-afarinan (3/ 145); Majma’ al-Fasaha’ (4/ 331).