Union Catalogue of Manuscripts from the Islamicate World

Delhi Persian 119 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

India Office Library

Miscellaneous works on Sufism and prayers, 88 items (a-cj)

Contents

Summary of Contents: Miscellany or majmūʿah of sūrahs from the Qurʾān, extracts or complete ritual and elective supplications accompanied by Persian annotations, traditions of prophets and imams, litanies, eulogies and other poems, moralist anecdotes, magic squares and talismans, medicinal recipes, and genealogies of the Chishtī and Qādirī Sufi orders, written by or for a Sufi or Sunnī religious officiate (possibly Shaykh ʿAbd al-Ṣamad Ṣiddīqī) over the course of several years, without particular order, for private use. Though damaged, the volume illustrates the range and depth of traditional and esoteric knowledge required in late-eighteenth-century India. Volume not dated; datable to late eighteenth century. Multiple hands ranging from neat to rough shikastah āmīz, several varieties of naskh occasionally merging with bihārī script. Traces of dense Devanagari text transmitted in reverse (ff. 13v-14r, 22v-23r). Papers covered with densely flecked silver (ff. 12v-13r, 14v, 21r, 22v-23r), with clusters of sheets sparsely flecked with silver encountered further on (ff. 73v-74r, 75v-76r, 77v-78v, 79v-80r). Floral motif in grey pigment sparsely stamped over the text (ff. 71v-72r, 81v). Numerous lacunae. Annotations in margins. Not foliated. Lacking original binding. Binding damaged (combed marble paper with brown leather edging over pasteboards), labels. Folios mostly bound; cropped, wormholes, later repairs. Tinted papers. Folios covered with densely flecked silver. Condition fragile.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic

1. ff. 1v-2r
Language(s): Arabic and Persian

Delhi Persian 119 a.

Untitled Arabic prayer followed by notes in Persian explaining its prescription by Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq for curing fever or tap.

Not dated at end.

This is followed by a note on hastening the betrothal of daughters.

2. ff. 2v-4v

Delhi Persian 119 b.

Persian notes introducing an untitled prayer partially in Persian and Arabic attributed to Shaykh Sayyid ʿAbd al-Qādir Gīlānī (d. 561/1166).

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
3. f. 3r

Delhi Persian 119 c.

Persian notes introducing an untitled prayer partially in Persian and Arabic attributed to a Muḥyī al-Dīn Abū Muḥammad [ibn] Ṣāliḥ Jīlānī, a reference to Shaykh Sayyid ʿAbd al-Qādir Gīlānī (d. 561/1166).

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
4. f. 5v

Delhi Persian 119 d.

Persian notes introducing a short untitled Arabic prayer for ʿĪd al-Fiṭr.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
5. f. 6r

Delhi Persian 119 e.

Persian notes introducing a short untitled talismanic Arabic prayer against illness.

Not dated at end.

This is followed by further notes.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
6. ff. 7v-10r

Delhi Persian 119 f.

Persian notes introducing an untitled Arabic prayer revealed in a dream to an unnamed Qāz̤ī from Baghdad.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
7. ff. 10r-10v

Delhi Persian 119 g.

Persian notes introducing an untitled Arabic prayer for good fortune.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
8. ff. 10v-16v

Delhi Persian 119 h.

Persian notes introducing the virtues of a brief untitled Arabic prayer revealed to the Prophet Muḥammad.

Not dated at end.

Papers covered with densely flecked silver (ff. 12v-13r, 14v).

Traces of dense Devanagari text transmitted in reverse (ff. 13v-14r).

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
9. f. 17r

Delhi Persian 119 i.

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
10. ff. 17v-18r

Delhi Persian 119 j.  

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
11. ff. 18r-18v

Delhi Persian 119 k.  

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
12. ff. 19r-19v

Delhi Persian 119 l.  

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
13. ff. 20r-21r

Delhi Persian 119 m.  

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Paper covered with densely flecked silver (f. 21r).

Language(s): Arabic
14. ff. 21r-22v

Delhi Persian 119 n.

Persian notes introducing the virtues of a brief untitled Arabic prayer for the needy favoured by the Sufi Shaykh Shihāb al-Dīn [Suhravardī].

Not dated at end.

Papers covered with densely flecked silver (ff. 21r, 22v). Traces of dense Devanagari text transmitted in reverse (f. 22v).

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
15. ff. 22v-23v

Delhi Persian 119 o.

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Papers covered with densely flecked silver (ff. 22v-23r). Traces of dense Devanagari text transmitted in reverse (ff. 22v-23r).

Language(s): Arabic
16. ff. 23v-25r

Delhi Persian 119 p.

Untitled Persian note on a tradition or ḥadīs̲ of the Prophet Muḥammad.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian
17. ff. 25r-30v

Delhi Persian 119 q.

Lengthy untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
18. ff. 31r-32v

Delhi Persian 119 r.

Persian notes introducing the virtues of a brief untitled Arabic prayer for forgiveness.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
19. ff. 33r-38v

Delhi Persian 119 s.

Persian notes discussing the virtues of the Arabic basmalah invocation from the Qurʾān mentioned in the Khulāṣat al-akhbār, probably a reference to the compendious history by Ghiyās̲ al-Dīn Khvāndamīr ibn Humām al-Dīn (d. 942/1535).

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
20. ff. 39r-43r

Delhi Persian 119 t.

Lengthy untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Bold naskh hand.

Language(s): Arabic
21. ff. 43v-45r

Delhi Persian 119 u.

Lengthy Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Awkward naskh hand combined with nastaʿlīq.

This followed by two short Persian notes on the curing of pain and a talismanic formula restoring fecundity to a miscarrying woman.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
22. ff. 46v-61v

Delhi Persian 119 v.

Lengthy untitled Arabic eulogy or durūd to the Prophet Muḥammad.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

This followed by a short Persian note on an additional prayer.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
23. ff. 62r-63r

Delhi Persian 119 w.

Untitled genealogy or nasab'nāmah of Sayyid ʿAbd al-Qādir Jīlānī.

Not dated at end.

Nastaʿlīq.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
24. ff. 63v-64r

Delhi Persian 119 x.

Incomplete fragment of the untitled Arabic spiritual genealogy of the Chishtīyah Sufi Order.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
25. f. 65r

Delhi Persian 119 y.

Arabic tradition or ḥadīs̲ of the Prophet Muḥammad.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
26. ff. 66v-70v

Delhi Persian 119 z.

Untitled eulogy or durūd to the Prophet Muḥammad.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
27. f. 71r

Delhi Persian 119 aa.

Untitled Arabic prayer introduced with a brief note in Persian.

Not dated at end.

Neat naskh and nastaʿlīq.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
28. ff. 71v-73r

Delhi Persian 119 ab.

Lengthy untitled Arabic eulogy or durūd to the Prophet Muḥammad.

Not dated at end.

Neat naskh.

Floral motif in grey pigment sparsely stamped over the text (ff. 71v-72r).

Language(s): Arabic
29. ff. 73r-77r

Delhi Persian 119 ac.

Untitled Arabic eulogy or durūd to the Prophet Muḥammad.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Papers covered with sparsely flecked silver (ff. 73v-74r, 75v-76r).

Language(s): Arabic
30. ff. 77v-81r

Delhi Persian 119 ad.

Untitled eulogy or manqabat to Sayyid ʿAbd al-Qādir Jīlānī.

Not dated at end.

Rough naskh declining into nastaʿlīq.

Papers covered with sparsely flecked silver (ff. 77v-78v, 79v-80r).

Floral motif in grey pigment sparsely stamped over text (f. 81v).

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
31. ff. 82v-94r

Delhi Persian 119 ae.

Lengthy Arabic prayer for Friday.

Not dated at end.

Minute naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
32. ff. 94v-108r

Delhi Persian 119 af.

Lengthy Arabic prayer for Saturday.

The Persian word ‘shanbah’ has been added above the text.

Not dated at end.

Minute naskh.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
33. ff. 108r-113v

Delhi Persian 119 ag.

Lengthy untitled Arabic prayer for Sunday.

The Persian word ‘yak shanbah’ has been added above the text.

Not dated at end.

Minute naskh.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
34. ff. 113v-119v

Delhi Persian 119 ah.

Lengthy Arabic prayer for Monday.

The Persian word ‘dū shanbah’ has been added above the text.

Not dated at end.

Minute naskh.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
35. ff. 119v-125r

Delhi Persian 119 ai.

Lengthy Arabic prayer for Tuesday.

The Persian word ‘sih shanbah’ has been added above the text.

Not dated at end.

Minute naskh.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
36. ff. 125r-131r

Delhi Persian 119 aj.

Lengthy Arabic prayer for Wednesday.

Not dated at end.

Minute naskh.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
37. ff. 131r-136v

Delhi Persian 119 ak.

Lengthy Arabic prayer for Thursday.

Not dated at end.

Minute naskh.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
38. f. 136v

Delhi Persian 119 al.

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Partially dated colophon (f. 136v): completed on Friday the day of burāʾat (‘shab-i burāʾat’), 14 Shaʿbān (year not stated).

Minute naskh and shikastah.

Language(s): Arabic
39. ff. 137r-138r

Delhi Persian 119 am.

Notes giving special instructions for prayers on the eves of Friday and other select days of the week.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
40. f. 139

Delhi Persian 119 an.

Arabic eulogy or durūd to the Prophet Muḥammad.

Not dated at end.

Awkward naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
41. f. 140v

Delhi Persian 119 ao.

Persian note on the deferral of ritual prayers.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian
42. ff. 140v-141v

Delhi Persian 119 ap.

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
43. ff. 142r-143r

Delhi Persian 119 aq.

Persian note on the expression of intent or nīyat before commencing ritual or elective prayers.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
44. ff. 143v-146r

Delhi Persian 119 ar.

Miscellaneous noted on prayer formulae and litanies.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
45. f. 146v

Delhi Persian 119 as.

Private utterance or munājāt attributed to the Prophet Muḥammad preventing poverty.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
46. f. 147r

Delhi Persian 119 at.

Notes on the benefits of reciting particular sūrahs of the Qurʾān, followed by a vifq al-aʿdād or numerological magic square used as a talisman or taʿvīz̲, finally concluding with a slightly modified version of the Nādi ʿAlī prayer.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
47. f. 148r

Delhi Persian 119 au.

Untitled Persian notes on a tradition related by Shaykh Abū Ilyās of a quatrain or rubāʿī recommended for recitation.

Not dated at end.

Shikastah āmīz.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
48. ff. 148v-149v

Delhi Persian 119 av.

Persian eulogy or durūd appealing for the aid of the Prophet Muḥammad, written in an irregular qiṭʿah form.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian
49. ff. 149v-150r

Delhi Persian 119 aw.

Arabic eulogy or durūd to the Prophet Muḥammad.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
50. ff. 150r-153r

Delhi Persian 119 ax.

Untitled Arabic spiritual genealogy of the Qādirīyah as late as the period of a certain Shaykh Bābā Muḥammad Ṭāhir.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
51. ff. 153v-158r

Delhi Persian 119 ay.

The ninety-nine names of the Prophet Muḥammad (in naskh) with extensive Persian notes on authorities for the tradition transcribed in minute shikastah āmīz in the margins.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
52. ff. 158v-159v

Delhi Persian 119 az.

Persian notes introducing the virtues of a brief untitled Arabic prayer against destitution.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
53. ff. 159v-188r

Delhi Persian 119 ba.

Untitled Persian eulogy or durūd praising and supplicating to the Prophet Muḥammad and earlier prophets, the caliphs, companions, Prophet Muḥammad’s wives, Sunnī scholars, and Sufi saints.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
54. ff. 188v-189r

Delhi Persian 119 bb.

Brief notes on Arabic prayer formulae recommended by Sayyid ʿAbd al-Qādir Jīlānī.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
55. ff. 189v-192r

Delhi Persian 119 bc.

Untitled quotation of sūrat Muzammil from the Qurʾān (lxxiii).

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Arabic
56. f. 193v

Delhi Persian 119 bd.

Brief untitled Arabic prayer for curing headaches.

Not dated at end.

Careful naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
57. ff. 194r-195r

Delhi Persian 119 be.

Fragment of an untitled Persian prayer.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Language(s): Persian
58. ff. 195r-196r

Delhi Persian 119 bf.

Brief untitled Arabic prayer preceded by notes in Persian.

Not dated at end.

Naskh and shikastah āmīz.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
59. f. 196r

Delhi Persian 119 bg.

Brief untitled Arabic prayer preceded by notes in Persian.

Not dated at end.

Naskh and shikastah āmīz.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
60. ff. 196r-200r

Delhi Persian 119 bh.

Lengthy untitled Arabic prayer preceded by notes in Persian.

Not dated at end.

Naskh and shikastah āmīz.

Language(s): Arabic and Persian
61. ff. 200v-201r

Delhi Persian 119 bi.

Persian notes explaining a brief Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Naskh and shikastah āmīz.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
62. ff. 201v-206v

Delhi Persian 119 bj.

Untitled Persian mas̲navī in praise of the Prophet Muḥammad, written irregularly in two columns in varied orientations.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
63. ff. 206v-208v

Delhi Persian 119 bk.

Untitled Persian notes on prophetic traditions relating to prayers read after ritual prayers.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
64. ff. 209r-212r

Delhi Persian 119 bl.

Untitled Persian spiritual genealogy of the Chishtīyah as late as the period of Shāh Hidāyat Allāh, known as the Bāb Allāh.

Distinctive naskh with elements from the bihārī script.

Undated colophon (f. 212r): completed by Shaykh ʿAbd al-Ṣamad Ṣiddīqī.

Language(s): Persian
65. f. 212v

Delhi Persian 119 bm.

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Annotations in watery ink.

Language(s): Arabic
66. ff. 214v-215v

Delhi Persian 119 bn.

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
67. ff. 215v-216r

Delhi Persian 119 bo.

Untitled quotation of the Āyat al-Kursī or the Throne Verse from the Qurʾān (ii: 255).

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
68. ff. 216r-216v

Delhi Persian 119 bp.

Untitled notes in Persian instructing on invocations to God in Arabic.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
69. ff. 216v-235r

Delhi Persian 119 bq.

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Annotations in margins.

Language(s): Arabic
70. ff. 235r-244v

Delhi Persian 119 br.

Untitled quotation of sūrat Yā Sīn from the Qurʾān (xxxvi).

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
71. ff. 245r-251v

Delhi Persian 119 bs.

Untitled quotation of sūrat Fatḥ from the Qurʾān (xlviii).

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
72. ff. 251v-258r

Delhi Persian 119 bt.

Untitled quotation of sūrat Vāqiʿah from the Qurʾān (lvi).

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Annotations in margins.

Language(s): Arabic
73. ff. 258r-261r

Delhi Persian 119 bu.

Untitled quotation of sūrat Mulk from the Qurʾān (lxvii).

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Annotations in margins.

Language(s): Arabic
74. ff. 261v-263r

Delhi Persian 119 bv.

Untitled Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Annotations in margins.

Language(s): Arabic
75. ff. 263r-269r

Delhi Persian 119 bw.

Untitled quotation of sūrat Fātiḥah from the Qurʾān (i) followed by a lengthy Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
76. ff. 269r-272r

Delhi Persian 119 bx.

Untitled quotation of sūrat Nabāʾ from the Qurʾān (lxxviii) followed by a brief Arabic prayer.

Not dated at end.

Naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
77. f. 272v

Delhi Persian 119 by.

Brief untitled Arabic prayer preceded by notes in Persian on the recommendation of Sayyid ʿAbd al-Qādir Jīlānī.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz with naskh for Arabic passages.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
78. ff. 273r-276v

Delhi Persian 119 bz.

Untitled Arabic prayer preceded by notes in Persian relating its revelation as a divine gift to the Prophet Muḥammad through the angel Jibrāʾīl.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz with naskh for Arabic passages.

Urdu verses added in margins.

Language(s): Persian, Arabic, Urdu
79. f. 277r

Delhi Persian 119 ca.

Brief untitled Arabic prayer preceded by notes in Persian.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz with naskh for Arabic passages.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
80. f. 277

Delhi Persian 119 cb.

Brief untitled Arabic prayer preceded by notes in Persian.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz with naskh for Arabic passages.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
81. f. 278

Delhi Persian 119 cc.

Brief untitled Arabic prayer preceded by notes in Persian on its recommendation attributed to the Sufi Ḥasan Baṣrī.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz with naskh for Arabic passages.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
82. ff. 278v-279v

Delhi Persian 119 cd.

Arabic supplicatory utterances ascribed in preceding Persian notes to the Sufi Vays (Uvays) Qaranī (d. 37/657).

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz with naskh for Arabic passages.

Title: Munājāt
Language(s): Persian and Arabic
83. ff. 280v-286r

Delhi Persian 119 ce.

Lengthy Arabic prayer preceded by notes in Persian.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz with naskh for Arabic passages.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
84. ff. 287v-299v

Delhi Persian 119 cf.

Untitled Arabic eulogy or durūd in praise of the Prophet Muḥammad, comprising the latter portion of Durūd Akbar.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz and naskh.

Language(s): Arabic
85. f. 300v

Delhi Persian 119 cg.

Brief Persian ghazal by an unknown author.

Not dated at end.

Language(s): Persian
86. f. 301

Delhi Persian 119 ch.

Brief humorous anecdote.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz.

Language(s): Persian
87. ff. 301v-302r

Delhi Persian 119 ci.

Brief Arabic prayer preceded by notes in Persian.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz and naskh.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic
88. ff. 302v-303r

Delhi Persian 119 cj.

Notes on the benefits of a vifq al-aʿdād or numerological magic square used as a talisman or taʿvīz̲.

Not dated at end.

Rough shikastah āmīz.

Language(s): Persian and Arabic

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: 303 ff. (+2)
Dimensions (leaf): 108 × 64 mm.

Hand(s)

History

Origin: 18th century India

Provenance and Acquisition

Purchased by the Government of India at sale organised by Delhi Prize Agents, 1859; administrative deposit India Office Library, 1876

1876

Government of India

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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