IO Islamic 3873 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

Slightly inaccurate manuscript copy of the Tāʾrīkh-i Sind, also known as Tāʾrīkh-i Maʿṣūmī, by Sayyid Muḥammad Maʿṣūm "Nāmī" al-Ḥusaynī al-Tirmiz̲ī who traces his origins back to Sayyid Shīr Qalandar ibn Bābā Ḥasan Abdāl al-Sabzavārī al-Qandahārī

The volume covers the history of the rulers of the Sind (Sindh) region, extending from the Umayyad period until its conquest by Mīrzā ʿAbd al-Raḥīm Khān the Khānkhānān for the Timurid or Mughal Emperor Akbar I

The work was written at the request of Mīr Buzurg (f. 3r), but there is no formal date of completion. The text comes to an abrupt end, probably because the author, Sayyid Muḥammad Maʿṣūm (son of Sayyid Ṣafāʾī, the shaykh al-Islam of Bhakkar), is sent on an embassy to Shāh ʿAbbās al-Ṣafavī I. On his return, the newly succeeding Emperor Jahāngīr granted him the title ʿAyn al-Mulk, but the author soon died in 1015/1606-7 at Bhakkar.

The work is divided into 4 khabar or juzv (sic =juzʾ): 1) rulers representing the ʿUmayyid [and ʿAbbāsid] dynasties, 2) Sūmrah [and Sammah] dynasties, 3) Arghūn dynasty, and 4) independent and later vassal Tarkhān dynasty until the death of Jānī Bayg (4 Rajab 1011/1603) and the transfer of power to Mīrzā Ghāzī

Parts of the dībāchah or preface are in an order different to the traditional form beginning with the doxology, beginning instead with the rationale and arrangement

Ink is very sticky in parts, causing areas of text to adhere, transfer impressions, or even tear on several folios

Colophon not dated (f. 132r), but does state the name of the scribe, Khalīfah Jān Muḥammad Qādirī

IOL stamp not dated (circa 11 Feb. 1903)

Watermarks on flyleaves: 1) erect lion with sceptre in crowned roundel; 2) T H Saunders 1854

Copied from an original =-=-=-=-