X. 1 (University Library, Cambridge University)
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E. G. Browne Collection
Contents
Summary of Contents: كمال البلاغة Kamálu l-Balágha or "The Perfection of Eloquence," an Arabic anthology in
prose and verse compiled by 'Abdu'r-Rahmán ibn 'Alí al-Yazdádí and comprising
in the first place the letters (rasa'il) of Shamsu'l-Ma'áli Qábús ibn Washmgir,
Prince of Tabaristán (d. 403/1012; see Lit. Hist. of Persia, vol. II, p. 101), which are
followed, for the purpose of comparison, by specimens in the same style selected
from the correspondence of the royal author's eminent contemporaries. Hajji
Khalifa (ed. Flügel, vol. v, p. 240, No. 10858) attributes this work to Qábús ibn
Washmgir himself. Begins: قال عبد الرحمن بن على اليزدادى كنت انظر فيما الفه قدامة بن جعفر في ذكرالکتاب واورده
في فصول مستخرجة من اثناء رسائل الكتاب وكلام البلغاء وأبان عنه من محاسن معان وألفاظ فصيحة The book to which al-Yazdádí refers in this passage is no doubt the Şina'atu-
'l-Kitába by Qudáma ibn Ja'far (d. 310/922 according to Brockelmann, Gesch. d.
Arab. Litt., 1, 228), which seems to have formed part of the same writer's Kitábu-
-Khardj (see De Slane in Journal Asiatique, Série v, vol. 20, p. 156) Al-Yazdádi goes on to say that, finding nothing in Qudáma's work comparable.
to the epistles of Qábús ibn Washmgír, he resolved to edit the latter in order that
they might serve as a perfect model to secretaries, ولهذا سميت الكتاب كمال البلاغة لبلوغه مبلغ النهاية في الكلام He adds that he has not included the answers written to these epistles, making an
exception, however, in favour of the Sahib Ismá'il ibn 'Abbád (and in one instance,
of Abú Ishaq Ibráhím ibn Hilal aş-Şábí). [In this letter (f. 17b) as-Sábí replies to a letter (f. 16b) in which Qábús had asked for two astrolabes
and other astronomical instruments in as-Sábi's khizána, and excuses himself for his inability to comply
with the request.] In the heading prefixed to each epistle he states the number of pairs of rhymed clauses (l) which it contains. In addition to the correspondence of Qábús ibn Washmgir, this volume com-
prises epistles or poems by the following: Abú Ishaq ibn Ibrahim as-Sábi (f. 18b),
the Sahib Ismá'íl ibn 'Abbád (ff. 21a, 22a), Abú Bakr al-Khwarizmi (ff. 22b-23a),
Muḥammad ibn 'Abdi'l-Jabbár al-'Utbi (ff. 24a-25b), Muḥammad ibn 'Abdi'l-'Aziz
as-Sulamí an-Nishábúrí (f. 25b), ar-Ra'is Aḥmad ibn Ibráhím ad-Dabbí (f. 26b),
as-Sayyid Abul-Hasan Ali ibnu'l-Hasan al-'Alawi (ff. 26b-27b), Abú Said ar-
Rustamí (f. 28a), Abu'l-Faraj ibn Hindú (f. 28b), Abú Sa'id ibnu'l-Khalaf al-
Hamadání (ff. 29a-31b), al-Imám Abú Ja'far Muḥammad ibn 'Abdi'lláh ibn Sáliḥ
az-Zawzaní (f. 32a), Abu'l-Hasan al- Bákharzí (ff. 32b-33b), Badí'u'z-Zamán al-Hama-
dání (ff. 34-38, 45, 46, 58-59), Abú Nasr Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Míkálí and
his son Abu'l-Fadl (ff. 40-42), Rashidu'd-Din Watwát (ff. 46-56), Abú Sa'id ibn
Abil-Khayr and Ibn Siná (ff. 57-58), and many others. Ff. 60 of 21,5 x 14,2 c. and 17 ll. Neat, clear modern naskh with rubrications.
No colophon or date. This is one of eighty-four MSS. of the Belshah collection
which were divided at the British Museum on Nov. 12, 1920.Physical Description
Form: codexSupport: PaperExtent: Ff. 60Dimensions: 21.5 × 14.2 cm.Layout
17 lines
Hand(s)
Neat, clear modern naskh with rubrications.
History
Origin: undatedProvenance and Acquisition
This is one of eighty-four MSS. of the Belshah collection which were divided at the British Museum on Nov. 12, 1920.
Bequest of E. G. Browne.
Record Sources
Summary, physical description and provenance copied from R. A. Nicholson: A descriptive catalogue of the Oriental MSS belonging to the late E.G. Browne. Cambridge, 1932.Availability
Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact Cambridge University Library Admissions). Contact near_eastern@lib.cam.ac.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript
Funding of Cataloguing
JISC
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