Siraj al-Din 'Ali ibn 'Uthman al-Ushi (d.1179 AD), Bad' al-Amali, copied by Ferhat Pasha, Turkey, Ottoman, dated Dhu'l-Qa'da 965 AH/August-September 1558 AD

Ferhat Pasha, born Mehmed Ibn Mustafa, was educated at the prestigious Enderun-u Humayun within the imperial walls of the Topkapi Palace. The Hungarian-born Pasha would later ascend to significant roles within the Ottoman Empire including becoming its chief gatekeeper and the agha of janissaries in 1558. After hastily rising through the ranks following his marriage to Hümaşah Sultan, the daughter of Sehzade Mehmet and the grand-daughter of Süleyman the Magnificent, Ferhat Pasha was appointed the Third Vizier in 1565. He died shortly after in 1575 at an early age.

The present manuscript was copied in 1558, the year in which Ferhat Pasha was appointed Chief Commander of the Janissaries and the illuminated dedicatory cartouche states that it was written while the scribe was in the service of Süleyman the Magnificent. It states, 'The weakest of (God’s) servant, the wretched Farhad (Ferhad) wrote it at the beginning of his vizierate for His Highness the Sultan, Sultan Süleyman Khan ibn Selim Khan, may (God) support his caliphate, in the month of Dhu’l-Qa’da of the year nine-hundred and sixty five (1558).’ 

Despite being immersed in his stately role, Ferhat Pasha had a passion for calligraphy. He studied under the leading calligrapher of the period, Ahmed Karahisari, taking thuluth and naskh lessons from him. He was particularly adept at naskh script and wrote numerous Qur’ans when he could find the time amid his official state duties which allowed him to attain a striking level of skill in this script. His expertise was recognised by his peers and Selaniki Mustafa Efendi writes that "among the great viziers no such calligrapher, famed as a penman, had held the office of the vizierate" (Necipoglu 2005, p.400). Examples of Qur’ans written by Ferhat Pasha can be found in the Topkapi Palace Museum, (inv. no.Y.811) and in the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, (inv.no.TIEM 338, see Istanbul 2010, pp.410-411, no.110).

A former director of the Topkapi Museum, Mr Kemal Cig, wrote the following about Ferhat Pasha’s talent in calligraphy in an article entitled ‘Hattat Vezirler' (The Calligrapher Viziers):

‘Ferhat Pasa was one of the most talented and valuable students raised by Ahmet Karahisari. Despite becoming a groom to the Palace and having a prominent title, Ferhat Pasa wasn’t consumed with the ambitious nature of his position or wealth, steering clear of intrigue and plots at the palace and instead completely immersing himself in his art. He spent most of his time copying the Qur’ans and selling them for 100 gold coins. Like his tutor Karahisari, he didn’t have any interest in the material world and devoted himself to producing great works. These Qur’ans are highly revered art objects due to the outstanding quality of their calligraphic merit’ (Rado 1983, p.74).

For a calligraphic album by Ferhat Pasha’s tutor, the renowned scribe Ahmed Karahisari, see previous lot.