Middle Persian, Early New Persian and Fahlawī Quotations in Tārīx-e Qom

Abstract Tārīx-e Qom is a unique text in terms of recording the Middle and early New Persian linguistic materials, which are embedded within the anecdotes that must have been well-known to the Zoroastrian community in Qom in the first two centuries CE and were transmitted to the author of Tārīx-e Qom . These words and phrases must have been composed in the central variety of Middle Persian, while it was in transition to New Persian. This variety is characterized by specific features, also found in some Persian texts written in Qom and its suburbs. This article aims to gather all evidence and carefully study their linguistic variety and characteristics. Among these materials, there is a Fahlawī phrase attributed to Kay Xusrow, which can be considered the oldest example of the Fahlawīyyāt.