Delhi Persian 1096B (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
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India Office Library
Kanz al-sālikīn by Khvājah ʻAbd Allah Anṣārī
Contents
Summary of Contents: A treatise on ethical Sufism written in ornate rhymed prose, attributed to Khvājah ʻAbd Allah Anṣārī on the title page, and in the text (f. 116v). The style, however, exhibits none of the archaic characteristics which might have been expected in a work of such antiquity, suggesting that it is not a genuine work by Anṣārī. In this copy there is no division into chapters or sections. The end is defective.Title: Kanz al-sālikīnTitle: کنز السالکینIncipit: حمد بی حد الهی را و درود بی عدد پادشاهی را که برداشت ار دبده دلها رمد، و رفع السماء بغیر عمد.Explicit: ای بنده من من ترا مفت سخن به خودی خود گفتم تا آموختیThe catchword on the last leaf (f. 143v) has been crossed out, and a false ending (تم) added.
A note on f. 1r states that the book had 156 folios, but currently there are only 146.
Language(s): PersianPhysical Description
Form: codexExtent: ff. 143+wrapperDimensions (leaf): 238 × 150 mm.Dimensions (written): 145 × 76 mm.Foliation:India Office stamped foliation.
Collation
Catchwords.
Condition
Slightly worm-eaten and damp-stained. Without binding and encased in a wrapper.
Layout
17 lines per page.
Hand(s)
Naskh, headings and overlinings in red. Occasional punctuation markings in red.
Decoration
Margins ruled in blue and red.
Rhyming prose is indicated in red by the term sajʻ (سجع).
Additions:Seal(s):Some corrections in the margins in black and red ink.
Folio 1r includes an Arabic prayer written in naskh, with rubrications in red.
A note on f. 1r names the owner as Muḥammad Hāshim. Two other former owners' names have been deliberately erased.
A note on f. 1v records a purchase price of RS. 2.5.
Unintelligible circular or oval seal, deliberately erased. (f. 1r)
Persian rectangular seal, defective and unintelligible. (f. 1v)
Black Government of India Delhi MSS oval stamp (ff. 1r, 143v).
Accompanying Material
Wrapper: regulation, printed in Calcutta, 1846 at the Bengal Military Orphan Press.
History
Origin: Undated, probably 17th century. IndiaProvenance and Acquisition
Owned by two unnamed owners followed by Muḥammad Hāshim.
Purchased by the Government of India at sale organised by Delhi Prize Agents, 1859; administrative deposit India Office Library, 1876.
Acquired by the Government of India in1876
Record Sources
Based on A.J. Arberry's description in Drafts for Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the India Office Library, vol. III,Mss Eur E207/1, f. 8r. Revised by Sheida Heydarishovir
Availability
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Funding of Cataloguing
BL
Subjects
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