X. 2 (University Library, Cambridge University)

Display:

E. G. Browne Collection

Summary of Contents: صرف الهم (2). A collection of edifying tales by an anonymous writer. The words,
which occur in the description of the work immediately after the Bismillah, are
given in the colophon as its title; they also form the title of a book ascribed in the
Fihrist (p. 130, 1. 24) to Qudáma ibn Ja'far (d. 310/922). The title written in red
above the Bismi'lláh is, and Professor Browne has noted on
the fly-leaf that "This seems to be an abridgement of the Kitábu'l-Faraj ba'da'sh-
Shidda of at-Tanúkhí, entitled Şarful-Hamm." The contents, however, show that the present compilation, though much of its matter is taken from at-Tanúkhí, must be regarded as an independent work. Begins: كتاب الاخبار المعينة على ادب النفس و صرف الهم وهو اثنا عشر بابا The headings of the twelve chapters into which it is divided are as follows: الباب الاول في الاخبار المعينة على الديانة وحسن النية والاقلاع عن المعصية والخطية، (f.2)
الباب الثانى فى الاخبار المعينة على الشكر وعلى تجنّب الكفر (f. 20) . الباب الثالث فى العفّة وتجنّب الفجور (f. 30)
الباب الرابع فى الاخبار المعينة على التواضع وعلى تجنّب الكفر (الكبر)، (39) (f) الباب الخامس فى الاخبار المعينة على الرحمة وعلى تجنب القساوة (47) f)
الباب السادس فى الاخبار المعينة على التوبة وعلى تجنب الاصرار (52)
الباب السابع في الاخبار المعينة على استعمال الحرم والمداراة وطلب العلم والحكمة وعلى تجنّب
النيور والجهل وتطبيع وتضييع) الحرما (0) 6) الباب الثامن في الاحوال المعينة على استعمال المشاورة وعلى تجنّب الاستبداد بالرأى (65)
الباب التاسع فى الاخبار المعينة على مكارم الاخلاق وتجنّب سوء الخلق، (672)
الباب العاشر فى الاخبار المعينة على الكرم وعلى تجنّب البخل، 82 )
الباب الحادى عشر في الاخبار المعينة على استعمال العدل وعلى تجنّب الظلم والجور (6) (f)
الباب الثاني عشر في الاخبار المعينة على استعمال الحلم وعلى تجنّب الغضب والسفه، 104 .f) As regards the books which the compiler has mentioned by name in the rubrics
introducing each anecdote, there are twenty-six excerpts from the Kitábu'l-Faraj
ba'da'sh-Shidda of at-Tanúkhí; ten (ff. 4, 36, 39, 40, 48, 55, 56, 109, 113,
114) from the Kitábu'l-Firdaws; six (ff. 108, 112, 114, 118, 119, 119) from the
Safatu'l-Jawhar (سفط الجوهر); three (f. 72, 98, 99) from the Tarikh of Abul-
Hasan Thábit ibn Sinan (as-Sábi; d. circa 365/975); three (ff. 120, 121, 121)
from the Kitábu Naqli-Ziráf (J); two (ff. 45, 46) from the Kitábu'n-
Nasiha of Abu'l-Qásim Hibatu'lláh ibn Masarra; and two (ff. 82, 104) from the
Kitábu'l-Wuzará of [Muhammad ibn 'Abdús] al-Jahshiyárí (d. 331/942). Although
the last-named work is one of at-Tanúkhí's sources, the extracts from it which are
given in this MS. are not likely to have been copied from the Faraj; the other five
books were not, apparently, excerpted by at-Tanúkhí in his great collection, and at
any rate they are not cited by him (see Alfred Wiener, Die Farağ ba'd aš-Šidda-
Literatur in Der Islam, vol. IV, 1913, p. 403 foll.). While our author has derived
the greater part of his materials from the Faraj, his work is planned on different
lines and to that extent possesses a character of its own. Ff. 122 of 23,7 x 13,3 c. and 17 ll. Excellent naskh with rubrications. Dated
1033/1623-4. No. 3 of eighty-four MSS. of the Belshah collection divided at the
British Museum on Nov. 12, 1920.

Author: anonymous

Title: Ṣarf al-hamm

Title: صرف الهم

Language(s): Arabic

References

p.276

Great part of the material of this work is taken from al-Farj baʻd al-shiddah الفرج بعد الشدة of Tanūkhī, al-Muḥassin ibn ʻAlī, 940?-994 المحسن بن على التنوخى .

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Paper

Extent: Ff. 122

Dimensions: 23.7 × 13.3 cm.

Layout

17 lines

Hand(s)

Excellent naskh with rubrications.

History

Origin: 1033 AH; 1623-4 CE

Provenance and Acquisition

This is n 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

Subjects

TO TOP