Iranian Dagger/NEED TRANSLATION

Aqtai · 29th August 2005, 09:06 AM

The whole inscription reads "la fata illa 'Ali La seyf illa dhu-l-feqqar 'Ali 'Ali".

It's in Arabic and translates roughly as "there is no youth except Ali, there is no sword except Dhu-l-feqqar, Ali, Ali". Dhu-l-feqqar was one of the swords of the prophet Muhammad which (I think) was later inherited by the Prophet's cousin Ali ibn Abi-Taleb.

It sounds like some kind of Shi'i battle cry. It's a variation on the traditional Muslim shehada; "la ilaha illa Allah". Which means "there is no god except God".

Aurangzeb · 30th August 2005, 03:49 AM

Hello Aqtai!

Thank you for the translation. This dagger is starting to seem less of a tourist dagger and more of a ceriomnial dagger. Can you also translate the inscription closest to the hilt that looks like it might be a makers mark please.

Mark...

29th August 2005, 09:06 AM	#1
Aqtai Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Merseyside, UK Posts: 222	The whole inscription reads "la fata illa 'Ali La seyf illa dhu-l-feqqar 'Ali 'Ali". It's in Arabic and translates roughly as "there is no youth except Ali, there is no sword except Dhu-l-feqqar, Ali, Ali". Dhu-l-feqqar was one of the swords of the prophet Muhammad which (I think) was later inherited by the Prophet's cousin Ali ibn Abi-Taleb. It sounds like some kind of Shi'i battle cry. It's a variation on the traditional Muslim shehada; "la ilaha illa Allah". Which means "there is no god except God".

30th August 2005, 03:49 AM	#2
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello Aqtai! Thank you for the translation. This dagger is starting to seem less of a tourist dagger and more of a ceriomnial dagger. Can you also translate the inscription closest to the hilt that looks like it might be a makers mark please. Mark...