Union Catalogue of Manuscripts from the Islamicate World

Or 15601 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

Oriental Manuscripts

Javahir-i khams

Contents

1 copy of Javāhir-i khams by Ibn Khaṭīr al-Dīn, Muḥammad, d. 1562 or 3

Part of the first of five sections of a rare treatise concerned chiefly with practical aspects of Sufism, especially prayer and invocations by Abū l-Mu’ayyid Muḥammad ibn Khaṭīr al-Dīn (or Quṭb al-Dīn), known as Muḥammad Ghaws̲ Gvāliyārī (d. 970/1562-3) who claimed to be descended from Farīd al-Dīn ‘Aṭṭār.

The author explains in his preface that the work was composed during years of living in solitary retreat and was completed in 956/1549-50, when he was fifty years of age.

The subjects of the five jawhar are listed on f. 3v-4r: worship (Dar ‘ibādat-i ‘ābidān va ṭarīq-i ān), asceticism (Dar zuhd-i zāhidān va ṭarīq-i ān), prayer (Dar da‘vat-i dā‘iyān va ṭarīq-i ān), invocations and similar exercises (Dar az̲kār va ashghāl), and on inheritance of the Truth, the work of the spiritually realised (varās̲at al-Ḥaqq ‘amal-i muḥaqqiqān va ṭarīq-i ān).

There also exists an Arabic version of the same work.

Other contents: front endpaper, inscription naming the work as Javāhir-i khamsah and describing its subject matter as dar ‘ilm-i awrād va ad‘īyah; a few explanatory marginalia, giving the full form of formulae referred to in the text, e.g. Āyat al-Kursī on f. 41v; old seal impressions, f. 1r, 14r, 48v.

Language(s): Persian

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Off-white paper of medium thickness, well sized.
Extent: 48 ff.
Dimensions (leaf): 348 × 214 mm.

Condition

Some worm damage and patch repairs.

Hand(s)

Persian in good nastaʻlīq, Arabic in vocalised s̲uls̲

Typography

Decoration

Red overlinings. 11 lines. Text frames: black, gold, black; black, gold (wide), gold; blue; black, gold, black. Illuminated heading, f. 1v; interlinear gilding (floral scroll), 1v-2r.

Additions:

Binding

Red morocco binding, with blind impressed medallions, pendants and border lines.

History

Origin: 18th century CE ; India

Provenance and Acquisition

2000-04-13

Acquired from Christies sale 13 April 2000, lot 247

Record Sources

Based on unpublished description in M.I. Waley, Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts acquired 2000-2014.

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact British Library, Registering for a Reader Pass. Contact apac-enquiries@bl.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript. For information on catalogues and ordering manuscripts see Finding and ordering Persian manuscripts in the British Library.

Funding of Cataloguing

BL


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