RSPA 92 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Jones Collection
Royal Society Arabic and Persian
A commentary on Sirāj al-Dīn al-Sajāwandī's Kitāb al-Farāʼiḍ
Contents
1 copy of al-Farāʾiḍ al-sharīfiyyah fī sharḥ al-sirājiyyah by al-Sharīf al-Jurjānī, ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad
Language(s): Arabic
A commentary on Sirāj al-Dīn al-Sajāwandī's Kitāb al-Farāʼiḍ.
The text is very well annotated. Of particular interest are Jones's notations about his reading, e.g. f74r "28th August 1792, Crishna-Nagar" which tell us when and where he read the text.
William Jones wrote a title page (signed 'WJ') on f1r: "Al-Shaīfiyyah: or, A Commentary on the Sirājiyyah, by Sayyad Sharīf. Three times read attentively W.J.". Previously, he had written "twice" read but this is crossed out.
Also on the title page (f1r) we find a note, "Indigofera (Linn. it sh.d be) / Indica (since Indicum was the ancient name of Indigo) / Nīla : since Indicum was the anct. name of Indigo" followed by the note "Property established by Muhammad. So Kurān, see Lacid & milc".
Jones also wrote marginal notes to show Qurʾānic quotations.
He wrote many explanatory notes for himself, both in Arabic and English (e.g. on land as property ff9r-10v, which includes transliterations of relevant sections).
Throughout the text, there are marginal equations made by Jones to explain/exemplify the formulae described by al-Jurjānīin the MS.
He sometimes translates whole sections of the text, e.g. on freedom in f41v.
There are some annotations which show how Jones understands the text as it applies to his surroundings, e.g. f45v in which he notes "hence, حرام زان".
On f164v, he draws a line underneath the explicit before the colophon and notes "30 Aug 1792: Finished the third careful reading of this book."
Translation of the colophon: "This pleasant book, called al-Faraʾiḍ al-sharīfiyyah fī sharḥ al-sirājiyyahand writted by al-Sayyid al-Sharīf al-Jurjānī, was completed with the help of al-Malik al-Wahhāb [=Allah, The King who Bestows]. Its great riches were rendered by the hands of His most humble servant, Ḥajj ʿAbd Allāh al-Makkīin the employ and at the request of Sir William Jones who is one of the High Chief Judges in the district of Kolkata. Monday, 28th Dhū ʼl-Qaʿdah 1205AH."
On f165v, he has transcribed (unsigned) the following from Pietro della Valle's Lettere da Basra: "Vidi nella piazza un asino salvatico overo Onagro, piccolo, che in casa del Bascià per galanteria si nudriva: era di forma come tutti gli altri asini, ma di color più chiaro: e dalla testa alla coda nel fila della schiene gli correva una riga di peli bionde, come d'un caval falbo carica di colore ed in correre ed in saltare si vedeva esser molto più leggiero degli asini domestici".
Physical Description
European numerals in pencil.
Collation
Text is collated in regular anomalous quires of eight singletons with guards between each quire.
Condition
Manuscript is in very good condition. The text is complete.
There are minor rips ff99-101 along the outer edges of the folios.
Layout
Uniform layout of fourteen written lines in one column on each side of the folio. Elongation markers are used to justify the columns.
Hand(s)
Very clear black naskh script with occasional rubrications.
Decoration
Catchwords present throughout.
William Jones has made copious annotations and notes.
Binding
Standard half-leather India Office binding (black/maroon coloured) with wine-coloured marbled endpapers.
Accompanying Material
History
Provenance and Acquisition
RSPA 1-118 were presented to the Royal Society in January 1792 by Sir William and Lady Jones. MS RSPA 92 was presented by Lady Jones, according to the Wilkins Catalogue.
The Royal Society's collection of 280 Persian and Arabic, and 86 Sanskrit manuscripts were transferred to the India Office Library in 1876.
1876
India Office Library
Record Sources
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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