D. 21 (University Library, Cambridge University)
E. G. Browne Collection
Contents
Summary of Contents: This MS. comprises a number of Persian works on Súfism, some of which are rare, together with several miscellaneous pieces chiefly mystical in character. The contents are as follows: (1) A letter in Persian from the Ottoman Sultán Murád III (?) to Sháh 'Abbas the Safawi (ff. 1-2³). (2) A mystical tract without title or author's name (ff. 2-8). It begins: سبحان الله این چه گوهر گرانمایه و این چه اختر بلندپایه است که آشنایان وحی و الہام اورا بسخن موسوم گردانیده اند (3) The Majali'l'Ushshaq (f. 10-62), biographical notices, 77 in this copy. of famous Súfis by Sultán Husayn b. Bayqará of Herát (d. 911/1505-6). See Rieu's Persian Catalogue, p. 351; Ethé, I. O. Persian Catalogue, No. 1870. (4) Kanzul Ashiqin (ff. 63-90) by Shaykh Muhyi'd-Din at-Tisi, who died in Halab in 830/1426-7 (see Rieu's Persian Catalogue, p. 1078). The present work, of which another copy is described by Ivanow, A. S. B. Persian Catalogue, No. 1238, consists of ten Majális, viz.: (۱) در عشق و محبت (۲) در بکا و ریاضات (۳) در رحمت حق و شفاعت (۱۴) در سکرات موت و شدت قبر (۵) در حقوق مسلمانان (٦) در حقوق همسایه (۷) در فضیلت جمعه (۸) در کسب حلال و فضیلت آن (۹) در عدل و احسان (۱۰) در سخاوت و فضل The author states that he was a descendant of the Imám (Abú Hámid Muḥammad) al-Ghazálí and that he derived the materials for this treatise from the Iḥyá, the Kimiyá-i Sa'ádat, and other writings of his famous ancestor. Transcribed in 1009/1600-1 at Band Súrat by Abú Muḥammad b. Fath. (5) Risala-i Chihil Majlis (f. 90-111), an interesting and valuable collection of forty discourses on mystical subjects by Shaykh Ruknu'd-Dín 'Ala'u'd-Dawla of Simnán (d. 736/1335-6), compiled by Iqbál b. Sábiq al-Sijistáni. (6) Exhortations and counsels addressed by the Prophet to 'Alí b. Abí Tálib (ff. 111-113) (7) Jawahiruth-Thamina (f. 113-124), a compilation of sayings and dis- courses on Súfism by the Chishti Shaykh 'Alí b. Abdi'l-Malik b. Qádíkhán al-Muttaqi (see Rieu, Persian Catalogue, p. 356), who died in 975/1567-8. The author says that after he had compiled a work in Arabic entitled Jandmin'l-Kilam fi'l-Mawa'iz wa-'l-Hikam, it occurred to him to write a work of the same kind in Persian for the benefit of all and sundry, comprising citations from the sayings of Shaykh 'Abdu'lláh al-Anşárí, the Mir'átu'l-Arifin of Prince Mas'úd-i Bak (see Rieu, Persian Catalogue, p. 632), the Nuzhatu'l-Arwáḥ, etc., and to this he gave the title of Jawdhira'th-Thamina (The Precious Jewels"). It is arranged according to the alphabetical order of the subjects of which it treats thus the first group of بر الوالدين بذل الروح the second group with انصاف اتحاد اخلاص sections deals with and so on. The transcription of this copy was completed on Jumáda 11, toog/ 9 December 1600. Another copy of the same work is described by Ivanow, A. S. B. Persian Catalogue, No. 1254, under the title of Jawámi'u'l-Kilam. (8) Silku's-Sulúk (ff. 124-153), a treatise on the progress of the Súfi towards union with God, by Diyá (Diyá'u'd-Dín) an-Nakhshabi, who died in 751/1350-1. See Rieu, Persian Catalogue, p. 41; Ethé, I. O. Persian Catalogue, Nos. 1838-9; Ivanow, A. S. B. Persian Catalogue, Nos. 1200-3. The work is divided into 151 silk ("bead-strings") and begins with the explanation of a number of technical terms (istilahal). (9) Nuzhatal-Arwah (ff. 154-173), a well-known treatise on the same subject as the preceding work, by Husayn b. Alim b. 'Ali b. Abil-Hasan al-Husayni, generally known as Fakhru's-Sádát (see Rieu, Persian Catalogue, p. 40), who died in 718/1318-9. (10) Fál-i manzúm (f. 174a), a poem of twenty-six verses in the hazaj metre on omens. 'Ali b. Abi Talib is quoted as authority for the rules and directions which are given. Begins امیر المومنین شاه دو عالم که باشد سوی او راه دو عالم (11) Two Arabic invocations (f. 174). The first, which is said to be uttered by Ilyás and Khidr when they take leave of each other after their meeting at 'Arafat on the day of 'Arafa, is introduced by a list of the blessings which it brings and the misfortunes which it averts. (12) Tafa'ul-i atsa (f. 174b), rules for taking omens from sternutation on each day of the week according to the quarter of the horizon whence the sneeze is heard. (13) Lawámi (ff. 175-181b), a Persian commentary by 'Abdu'r-Rahmán Jámí on certain verses of the Khamriyya ("Wine Ode") of Ibnu'l-Fáriḍ. See Rieu, Persian Catalogue, p. 8o8, (14) Qasidas and ghazals by al-Murtadà al-Maghfür Amir-i lájj (f. 182-193) I am unable to identify the author. Many of the poems are in praise of 'Ali b. Abi Tálib. Begins: نماز شام كز آثار امر كن فيكون هزار نقش بر آرد سپهر بو قلمون (15) Munsha át of Mírzá Muḥammad Riḍá'í (?), a collection of letters in ornate style (ff. 195-209). Begins: یا رب نفسی ده كه ثنا پردازم وین نغمه بآهنگ سزا پردازم Ff. 210 of 26 x 15'5 c. and, for the most part, 35 ll. running obliquely across the page. The bulk of the volume is written in small nasta'liq. Ff. 12-153 are numbered vir-1A and must originally have formed part of a much larger volume. The margins are damaged in places but have been carefully repaired.
6. ff. 111b-113b
Language(s): Persian
10. f. 174a
Title: Fāl-i manẓūm
Title: فال منظوم
Title: Poem of 26 verses on omens
Language(s): Persian
13. ff. 175b-181b
Title: Lawāmiʻ
Title: لوامع
Language(s): Persian
References
Commentary on certain verses of the Khamrīyah خمرية of .
Physical Description
Form: codex
Support: Paper
Extent: Ff. 210
Dimensions: 26 × 15.5 cm.
Layout
35 lines
Hand(s)
Written in small nasta'liq.
History
Origin: 1009 AH; 1600-1 CE
Provenance and Acquisition
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
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Funding of Cataloguing
JISC
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