Delhi Persian 968 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

Persian paraphrase of an Arabic treatise commenting on aspects of the Qurʾān and Aḥādīs̲ based on Ṣūfī principles, with the assumed title Asmār al-asrār.

The work is accompanied by numerous glosses attributed on the flyleaf to the Chishtī saint and scholar, Muḥammad Bandah'navāz Gīsū'darāz (d. 825/1422).

The work is divided into at least 114 sections, though not all are clearly indicated with the introductory word qawluh or samar. The work suffers from several lacunae and is comprised of two portions: the first written in a dense scribal nastaʿlīq hand (ff. 1-214), the second in multiple naskh hands within red jadval rulings (ff. 215-298).

Defective at end.

Not dated.

Folios damaged by wormholes and water stains; expanded along outer edges; repaired with net overlay; rebound in a red India Office Library binding dated 23 Feb. 1915.

At beginning (f. 1r): erased seal impressions next to the name Qāz̤ī Munʿim Niẓām al-Dīn Muḥammad Fakhr al-Dīn (or Muḥammad Fakhr al-Dīn ibn Qāz̤ī Munʿim Niẓām al-Dīn). Lengthy owner’s inscription states this work is titled Imtiyāz and is the work of Muḥammad Bandah'navāz Gīsū'darāz Vāsiṭī al-Ḥusaynī, mentioning the work was collated around the date Rajab 1199/May 1785, in the house of Sayyid Imtiyāz Khān takhalluṣ "Z̲ukā", from an original (details erased) obtained while migrating en route from Khujistah Bunyād Awrang'ābād toward the city of his birth (Delhi). This took place within the period of approximately one month after the death of Muḥammad Fakhr al-Dīn, the former owner.