sahifalarihisher

Sahifalarihisher, also known as *sahifalarihish* or *sahifalarihishan*, refers to a traditional Persian and Central Asian practice of hand-copying manuscripts, particularly religious texts such as the Quran, hadith collections, or classical poetry. The term derives from the Persian words *sahifa* (صفحه), meaning "page," and *lihish* (لیش), meaning "to write" or "to inscribe." This craft was historically significant in preserving and disseminating knowledge before the widespread availability of printed books.

The process involved meticulous calligraphy, often executed by skilled scribes known as *sahifalarihishgaran* (صفه‌لیشگران). These artisans would carefully transcribe texts by hand, adhering to strict rules of orthography, grammar, and decorative script styles such as *nastaʿlīq* or *thuluth*. The practice was common in Islamic scholarly centers, including Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and parts of the Indian subcontinent, where manuscripts were highly valued for their aesthetic and spiritual significance.

Sahifalarihisher was not merely a mechanical act but an act of devotion, particularly when copying religious texts. Many scribes followed specific rituals, such as reciting prayers before beginning or ensuring the text was error-free to honor its sacred content. Over time, as printing technology spread, the practice declined, though it remains a cherished tradition in some cultural and religious circles. Today, hand-copied manuscripts are considered valuable artifacts, reflecting both artistic mastery and the historical methods of knowledge preservation in the Islamic world.