The letters are white on the dark-blue background. Due to its execution style and amazing plasticity of letters, this inscription is regarded as the most original and highly artistic example of the monumental calligraphy art in Central Asia.
Part of the inscription was restored during the 2005 repairs. However, as regards the color palette and especially the penmanship style, the restored part differs from the original. Two hadithes of the Prophet are inscribed in the naskh script in the lower parts of the entrance aperture. The inscription was made in 2005.
The Prophet – peace be upon him! – said: «Save yourself from the hellfire by alms of at least a half-persimmon».
A fragment from the Koran is inscribed in the geometrical kufic script in the square cartouche over the entrance aperture. The inscription background is turquoise, and the characters are dark blue. This inscription should be assessed as one of the greatest achievements in the art of monumental calligraphy of its epoch.
Likewise, two more cartouches with inscriptions mounted on the right and left side walls of the portal niche should be regarded as a remarkable achievement in the art of monumental calligraphy. The calligraphy of the inscription is stylized and geometrized kufic. In each cartouche, the inscription is repeated two times. The text arrangement is practically perfect. A stylized flourish with the name of Prophet Muhammad serves as the compositional center of the inscriptive ornament. The names of the four Prophet’s heirs are written around it in the same form of geometrized patterns.
Muhammad, Abu Bakr, ‘Umar/‘Omar, ‘Ousman, ‘Ali.
You can read more about the inscriptions on the buildings of the memorial ensemble in the book-album “Samarkand. Shahi-Zindah” series “Architectural epigraphy of Uzbekistan”.