MS. Hyde 41 (Bodleian Library, Oxford University)

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A larger work on the same kind of divination, called فال, in the form of a very queer and rather puzzling set of astrological tables. It begins with a preface, on fol. 1b: حمد بی حد خلاق برایایه که نقوش عالم اشکال, in which the high value and importance of this art is set forth. It is dedicated to a Sulṭān, but unfortunately his name is left blank. The anonymous author quotes of course as his principal authority the same İmām Caʿfer-i Ṣādıḳ, especially one of his books on this subject, styled جليل القواعد و جزيل الفوائد. After the very flowery dedication, the author proceeds to the explanation of the following tables, from which every one may learn whether his heart's desire will find fulfilment or meet with disappointment. The first reference-table, on fol. 3b, consists of six small circles, each divided into ten compartments, the first devoted to the winter (شتا), the second to the summer (صیف), the third to the west (دبور), the fourth to the east (صبا), the fifth to the south (جنوب), and the sixth to the north (شمال). The reader, after using and examining this, is referred to the second referencetable, on fol. 4a, which consists of ten small circles, each divided into six compartments, and contains sixty questions which are likely to be put to the stars. After the use of this the reader has to apply himself to the third reference-table, on fol. 4b, which consists of one large circle in ten sections, each divided again into six compartments, and forms a kind of combination of the two preceding ones. It shows the planets under the influence of which the different seasons and winds are placed. At the top of each table a couple of beyts is written; the first couple begins: اول بو آلتی دائره یه ایلکل نظر ایچندکی ضمائری ضبط ایله سر بسر. The second couple begins: آندن بو اون دوائرس ایچنده هرنه وار كوركل كوكل كربله ایلاکل اعتبار. The third couple begins: آندن بو اولو دائره یه ایلکل نظر که ایچنده نجم و نیر هم شمس و هم قمر. The numbers ten and six act a prominent part throughout this book, as the above circles show, and the following tables exhibit the same peculiarity. Ff. 5b-13a contain a series of tables which show the celestial influences of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, the seven planets, and the principal constellations of the other stars, upon ten classes of animate and inanimate beings, viz. Khalifs, Begs, tribes, men, women, Turks (the Tātars, in contrast to the Ottomans), animals, trees, birds, and towns. To give an example, the first sign of the Zodiac, Aries, governs: (1) among the on this subject, style, Al-Saffaḥ; (2) among the Begs, Rukn-aldaulah; (3) among the tribes, the Banū Hashim; (4) among men, Aḥmed; (5) among women, Eve; (6) among the Turks, Malikshāh; (7) among the animals, the elephant; (8) among the trees, the almond-tree (بادام); (9) among the birds, the peacock; (10) among the towns, Mecca. There are enumerated altogether sixty in each of the ten classes; compare on this point of celestial influence of the planets, etc., Raphael, Manual of Astrology, London, 1828, p. 61 sq. On ff. 13b-23a the same ten classes with sixty compartments in each appear, arranged in form of twenty circles, every two of which belong to one of those ten classes, each circle giving thirty names with additional prophecies and questions, the answers to which the reader is to seek in the last portion of the work. This last and queerest portion of the whole composition, on ff. 23b-53, consists of sixty tables, each arranged under the heading of one great Arabic writer, or man of renown, and containing ten quatrains (either rübāʿīs or ḳıṭʿas), with practical lessons for human life and welfare, derived from the science of astrology. For instance, the first table bears the heading of طای, the third عبد الرحمن, the sixth of شداد ابن عال, the fifteenth of حریری, the last of متنبی. This copy came into the possession of İbrāhīm bin Ḳāsım el-Emīrcānī, AH 1029=AD 1620.

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