Y. 3 (University Library, Cambridge University)
E. G. Browne Collection
Contents
Summary of Contents: کنتر الاسرار (۱) رساله در اعز اوقات (۲) فرخ نامه جمالی (۳) This MS. comprises three separate works: 1. (ff. 1-77.) A Persian translation, entitled Kanzu (or Ganju) 'l-Asrár, of a
well-known Arabic treatise on marriage and sexual intercourse, al-Idák fi Asrárin-
Nikah. The original was written by Shaykh 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Nasr ibn
'Abdi'lláh ash-Shírází, a physician of Aleppo who died in 565/1169 (see Brockel-
mann, Gesch. d. Arab. Litt., vol. 1, p. 488, No. 20). The anonymous translator
dedicates his work to the Wazir Abu'l-Ma'álí Muhammad ibn 'Izzi'd-Din, at whose
instance he composed it. It is divided into two Parts (Juz) of which the first
(ff. 1-38) contains a Muqaddama and ten chapters, and the second (ff. 38-73)
nine chapters, together with a Khátima (ff. 73-77). Table of Contents on f. 6. The transcription of this copy, which is imperfect at the beginning, was completed
on 25 Dhul-Qada, 886/Jan. 15, 1482, by 'Ali ibn 'Abdillah ibn 'Ali Bakir (?)
al-Kátib aş-Şifáhání. A Turkish version of the Idák is described in Flügel's
Vienna Catalogue, vol. II, p. 538. 2. (ff. 78-87.) Risála dar a'azz-i awqát, a treatise on the most suitable times
for sexual intercourse, in seventeen chapters, without author's name or date. Table
of Contents on f. 79. Begins بسم الله تيمنا بذكره الاعلى سپاس و ستایش آفریدگار جهانرا 3. (ff. 88-168.) Farrukh-náma-i Jamálí by Abú Bakr al-Mutahhar ibn
Muḥammad ibn Abi'l-Qásim ibn Abi Sa'id (Sa'd in this copy) al-Jamál, generally
known as al-Yazdí. See Rieu, Persian Catalogue, vol. II, p. 465, where this work
is described as "treating of the properties and uses of natural substances, also of
divination and astrology." The title occurs on f. 89, 1. 11; Hájjí
Khalifa, ed. Flügel, vol. IV, p. 412, No. 9011, which Rieu has adopted.
The date of composition is said by Hájjí Khalifa to be Ramadán 560/Nov.-Dec.,
1164. The British Museum MS. gives Ramadán 580/Dec. 1184-Jan. 1185, and
in the present copy the date given is Rabí', 597/Dec. 1200-Jan. 1201. As the
author states in his preface, the work is an imitation of the Nuzhat-náma-i
Alat (see Ivanow, A.S.B.P.C., No. 1358), which he ascribes on f. 89, 1. 3, The contents of the sixteen Maqalat or Discourses are enumerated on ff. 91-b (cf. Rieu, loc. cit., p. 466). Begins:شکر و سپاس بی قیاس آن پروردگاری که معلم اشیا [اسما) و مظهر اسیاست اشیاست No colophon or date. Ff. 168 of 22 x 16,8 c. and 17 ll., written throughout in a legible ta'liq and dated
on f. 77 the 25th of Dhu'l-Qa'da, 886/Jan. 15, 1482. From the library of the late
Sir Albert Houtum-Schindler.
well-known Arabic treatise on marriage and sexual intercourse, al-Idák fi Asrárin-
Nikah. The original was written by Shaykh 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Nasr ibn
'Abdi'lláh ash-Shírází, a physician of Aleppo who died in 565/1169 (see Brockel-
mann, Gesch. d. Arab. Litt., vol. 1, p. 488, No. 20). The anonymous translator
dedicates his work to the Wazir Abu'l-Ma'álí Muhammad ibn 'Izzi'd-Din, at whose
instance he composed it. It is divided into two Parts (Juz) of which the first
(ff. 1-38) contains a Muqaddama and ten chapters, and the second (ff. 38-73)
nine chapters, together with a Khátima (ff. 73-77). Table of Contents on f. 6. The transcription of this copy, which is imperfect at the beginning, was completed
on 25 Dhul-Qada, 886/Jan. 15, 1482, by 'Ali ibn 'Abdillah ibn 'Ali Bakir (?)
al-Kátib aş-Şifáhání. A Turkish version of the Idák is described in Flügel's
Vienna Catalogue, vol. II, p. 538. 2. (ff. 78-87.) Risála dar a'azz-i awqát, a treatise on the most suitable times
for sexual intercourse, in seventeen chapters, without author's name or date. Table
of Contents on f. 79. Begins بسم الله تيمنا بذكره الاعلى سپاس و ستایش آفریدگار جهانرا 3. (ff. 88-168.) Farrukh-náma-i Jamálí by Abú Bakr al-Mutahhar ibn
Muḥammad ibn Abi'l-Qásim ibn Abi Sa'id (Sa'd in this copy) al-Jamál, generally
known as al-Yazdí. See Rieu, Persian Catalogue, vol. II, p. 465, where this work
is described as "treating of the properties and uses of natural substances, also of
divination and astrology." The title occurs on f. 89, 1. 11; Hájjí
Khalifa, ed. Flügel, vol. IV, p. 412, No. 9011, which Rieu has adopted.
The date of composition is said by Hájjí Khalifa to be Ramadán 560/Nov.-Dec.,
1164. The British Museum MS. gives Ramadán 580/Dec. 1184-Jan. 1185, and
in the present copy the date given is Rabí', 597/Dec. 1200-Jan. 1201. As the
author states in his preface, the work is an imitation of the Nuzhat-náma-i
Alat (see Ivanow, A.S.B.P.C., No. 1358), which he ascribes on f. 89, 1. 3, The contents of the sixteen Maqalat or Discourses are enumerated on ff. 91-b (cf. Rieu, loc. cit., p. 466). Begins:شکر و سپاس بی قیاس آن پروردگاری که معلم اشیا [اسما) و مظهر اسیاست اشیاست No colophon or date. Ff. 168 of 22 x 16,8 c. and 17 ll., written throughout in a legible ta'liq and dated
on f. 77 the 25th of Dhu'l-Qa'da, 886/Jan. 15, 1482. From the library of the late
Sir Albert Houtum-Schindler.
1. ff. 1a-77b
Title: Kanz al-asrār
Title: Ganj al-asrār
Title: كنز الاسرار
Title: گنج الارار
Language(s): Persian
References
Persian translation of the Arabic original work entitled al-Īḍāḥ fī asrār al-nikāḥ الايضاح في اسرار النكاح .
Physical Description
Form: codex
Support: Paper
Extent: Ff. 168
Dimensions: 22 × 16.8 cm.
Layout
17 lines
Hand(s)
Written throughout in a legible ta'liq.
History
Origin: 886 AH; 1482 CE
Provenance and Acquisition
From the library of the late Sir Albert Houtum-Schindler .
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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