Union Catalogue of Manuscripts from the Islamicate World

Delhi Persian 1106 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)

India Office Library

Maʻdan al-asrār by ʻAli ibn Muḥammad ibn Jakan? al-ʻAlavī

Contents

Summary of Contents: A comprehensive treatise on Shattarī Sufism by ʻAli ibn Muḥammad ibn ? al-ʻAlavī, known as Manjihr? (=Manuchihr?) Sayyid Jīv al-Ḥusaynī, based on the teachings of Shaykh Faz̤l Allāh Muḥammad ibn ʻAlā al-Dīn Muḥammad Qāz̤in. Arranged in 61 chapters (faṣl). The work concludes with the genealogies of Muḥammad Qāz̤in through 14 filiations.
Title: Maʻdan al-asrār
Title: معدن الاسرار
Incipit: اما بعد حمد و ثناء فراوان و سپاس و ستایش بی پایان مر مبدع موجودات عیانی و مخترع مکوّنات از اعیان و اخلاق و معانی الخ.
Explicit: و حضرت ایشان خلافت از حضرت امام حسین دشت کربلا داشت و حضرت ایشان خلافت از حضرت اسد الله الغالب علی ابن ابیطالب کرم الله وجهه و حضرت ایشان خلافت از حضرت سید المرسلین محمد مصطفی صلی الله علیه و سلم. تم

The author describes himself on f. 3v as ʻAli ibn Muḥammad ibn Jakan? al-ʻAlavī, known as Manjihr? Sayyid Jīv al-Ḥusaynī. On f. 4r, he states this book in 61 chapters is what Shaykh Qāz̤in-i ʻAlā has said about the Shaṭṭārī sect, and he has named it Maʻdan al-asrār fī bayān-i khāndān-i mashrab-i Shaṭṭār.

Language(s): Persian.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: ff. ii+138+wrapper
Dimensions (leaf): 216 × 149 mm.
Dimensions (written): 146 × 92 mm.
Foliation:

India Office stamped foliation and Persian foliation.

Collation

Catchwords.

Condition

Slightly worm-eaten and damp-stained. Some loose leaves. without binding, encased in a wrapper.

Layout

Varying. 15 to 18 lines per page.

Hand(s)

Naskh, with some nastaʻlīq elements. Copied in black ink. Some headings and overlinings in red.

Additions:

Notes on ff. ii verso and 1r give the author's name as Muḥammad Qāz̤in. Folio ii verso refers to him as Shaykh Faz̤l Allāh, known as Muḥammad Qāz̤in, cousin of Shaykh Sharaf al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyā Munīrī, who was a disciple of Khalīfah Shaykh Ḥamīd Hājī Ḥuz̤ūr Shaṭṭārī. Folio 1r calls him Haz̤rat-i Muḥammad ... Shāh Qāz̤in Shaṭṭāri.

Folio ir contains quotationa and references to other works.

Folio i verso is covered with additional verses.

Folio iir includes various prayers and instruction .

Folio 138 is written diagonally and includes a note quoting a Ḥanafī fatvā and a discussion about managing property and construction. Two prayers have been added at the bottom of f. 138v.

Seal(s):

Octagonal black seal, reading Naṣr min Allāh wa fatḥun qarīb (Qurʼan 61:13). Date illegible. (f. 1r).

Black oval seal: Muḥammad ʻĪsā, 1202? (1787/88) (f. 136r).

Black Government of India Delhi MSS oval stamp (ff. 1r, 138v).

Accompanying Material

Wrapper: Government of India Legislative printed document dated 1849.

History

Origin: Undated, probably 18th century. India

Provenance and Acquisition

Belonged at the end of the 18th century to Muḥammad ʻĪsā (f. 136r).

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 E207/2, f. 55r, and R. Levy's description, Mss Eur E207/13, f. 49r. Revised by Sheida Heydarishovir

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. For information on catalogues and ordering manuscripts see Finding and ordering Persian manuscripts in the British Library.

Funding of Cataloguing

BL


Comments

Comment on this record

Please fill out your details.

How are we using your feedback? See our privacy policy.

See the Availability section of this record for information on viewing the item in a reading room.

TO TOP