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Persian MS 893 (The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The University of Manchester)

Persian Manuscripts

This composite manuscript contains four works by Jāmī (1414-1492), and includes one of the earliest translations into Ottoman Turkish.

Summary of Contents: This composite manuscript contains four works by ‘Abd al-Raḥman Jāmī (1414-1492). The first is an incomplete copy of his commentary on the Lama‘at of ‘Irāqī (d. ca. 1289), composed in 886 AH (1481 CE). The second work appears to be the earliest-known copy of an Ottoman translation of the Lavā'iḥ (Flashes) composed by ‘Abdülmecīd ibn Naṣūḥ ibn Isrā'īl al-Rūmī al-Amāsī (d. 1588) in circa 1581, with this copy completed in Rabī‘ I 996 AH (Feb. 1588 CE), the same year that he died. The third manuscript contains both Jāmī's Nay Nāmah (Book of the Reed) followed by select excerpts from his Ruq‘āt (Correspondence), both copied by the same unidentified, Ottoman-era scribe. A prior owner combined these texts and bound them together as one volume, probably during the early–mid 19th century CE.

Physical Description

Form: codex

Extent: 34 folios, 2 flyleaves (ff. i + 34 + i)

Dimensions (leaf): 195 × 136 mm.

Foliation: Pencilled Arabic numerals added to the upper-left corners of the a sides when catalogued.

Collation

1II(3) 1IV(11) 1VI(23) 1 IV+2 (34). Catchwords in all but the first work

Additions:
Bookplates: The left pastedown: ‘Bibliotheca Lindesiana’ with pencilled shelfmark ‘1/K’, and Lindesiana label ‘Persian MSS. add
Nº 99
Djami's Minor Works’, with the number crossed out and ‘893’ written aside.

Binding

Probably originally bound in the Ottoman Empire, possibly 18th century CE.

Sewn on three cord supports, frayed out. Edges trimmed and endbands omitted at head and tail. Binding of thin card faced with silvered paper. Spine covered in quarter medium brown calfskin leather, probably over the original as a later repair.

195 × 140 × 12 mm.

Handle binding with caution. In fair but stable condition, with extensive wear at the edges of the thin pasteboard covers.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

While the circumstances under which this volume arrived in Britain remain unclear, Alexander Lindsay, 25th Earl of Crawford (1812–1880) probably acquired it before 1866 from an unidentified source, then moved it to his Bibliotheca Lindesiana at Haigh Hall, Wigan.

Purchased by Enriqueta Rylands (1843–1908) in 1901 from James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford (1847–1913).

Bequeathed by Enriqueta Rylands (1843–1908) in 1908 to the John Rylands Library, Manchester.

Persian MS 893A

Summary of Contents: An incomplete copy of a commentary on the Lama‘at of ‘Irāqī by Jāmī (1414-1492), composed in 886 AH (1481 CE).

1b to 3a

Author and Commentator: Jāmī, 1414-1492;
جامی

Author and Bibliographic antecedent: Fakhr al-Dīn Ibrāhīm ‘Irāqī, 1211–1289;
فخر الدين ابراهيم عراقي

Title: Ashiʼat al-Lamaʼāt

Title: اشعة اللمعات

Incipit: (beginning) برگ ۱پ (folio 1b): لولا لمعات برق نور القدم * من نحو حمی الجود وحی الکرم.

Explicit: برگ ۳ر (folio 3a): او در جمیع موجودات کرده است بنابر ازوم ملابسه وی مر قاذورات و اشیاء.

Colophon: No colophon

Language(s): Persian

References

Hamid Algar, Jami (Oxford: University of Oxford Press, 2013), p. 102.

Jāmī, Bahāristān va Rasāʼil-i Jāmī: Mushtamil bar Risālahʹhā-yi Mūsīqī, ʻArūz̤, Qāfīyah, Chihil Ḥadīs̲, Nāʼīyah, Lavāmiʻ, Sharḥ-i Taʼʼīyah, Lavāyiḥ va Sarʹrishtah (Tehran: Mīrās̱-i Maktūb, 1379 SH [2000 CE]), pp. 325–336.

E. Sachau and H. Ethé, Catalogue of the Persian, Turkish, Hindûstani, and Pushtû manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Vol. I (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1889), col. 610, no. 894/11 and p. 635, no. 966 [Bodleian MS Ouseley 288, no. 11 and MS. A. Walker 84)].

Physical Description

Support: Textblock of cross-grained, externally sized and polished, ivory-coloured paper handmade in Europe with ~10 laid lines per cm and ~34 mm between chain lines.

Extent: 2 folios (ff. 2)

Dimensions (leaf): 195 × 136 mm.

Dimensions (written): 194 × 135 mm.

Collation

1 binion. 1II(3). No catchwords

Condition

Extensively rodent chewn along the fore-edge.

Layout

Written in 1 column with 21 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.

Hand(s)

Written in clear clear black Ottoman, style nasta‘līq with red subheaders.

History

Origin: Probably completed in the Ottoman Empire; undated, but possibly 18th century CE.

Persian MS 893B

Summary of Contents: An extremely rare, earliest-known manuscript of an Ottoman translation by ‘Abdülmecīd ibn Naṣūḥ ibn Isrā'īl al-Rūmī al-Amāsī (d. 1588) of the Lavā'iḥ (Flashes) by Jāmī (1414-1492). Composed in circa 1581, this manuscript is dated Rabī‘ I 996 AH (Feb. 1588 CE), the same year of his death.

4a to 23b

Author: Jāmī, 1414-1492 جامی

Author and Translator: ibn Isrā'īl al-Rūmī al-Amāsī, ‘Abdülmecīd ibn Naṣūḥ, d. 1588;
Abdülmecid b. eş-Şeyh Nasûh b. İsrâîl el-Amâsî, ö. 1588
ابن إسرائيل الرومي، عبد المجيد بن نصوح. و. ۱۵۸۸م

Title: Tarjumah-'i Lavāyiḥ

Title: Tercemeh-'i Levāyiḥ

Title: ترجمهٔ لوایح

Incipit: (basmala) برگ ۴پ (folio 4b): بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم * خیر‌ایله ختم‌ایله بنی یا کریم | نجه ایدم ثناءِ پاکݣ احصا * که لطف وجودݣ اولمز هیج محصی...

Explicit: برگ ۲۳پ (folio 23b): جرعءِ کافی بود از ختم برای چاشنی * عارفی را بس بود یک دسته ریحان ز باغ.

Colophon: والله اعلم بالصواب و الیه المرجع و الماب. الحمد لله وحده و لا شئ بعده تم. هر که خواند دعا طمع دارم * ز آنکه من بندهءِ کنه کرم. حرره فی شهور ربیع الاول سنه ۹۹۶

Colophon: Completed during Rabī‘ I 996 AH (Feb. 1588 CE).

Language(s): Persian and Ottoman Turkish

For the only other known copy held in the Kastamonu Yazma Eseler Kütüphanesi, completed 27 Muḥarram 1048 AH (10 Jun 1638 CE), see Karacan and Acıl. The latter presents a complete transliteration and analysis of this text derived from that manuscript.

References

Kastamonu Yazma Eserler Kütüphanesi, no. 37 HK 3670/10, folios 221b–230b

H. Algar, Jami (Oxford: University of Oxford Press, 2013), pp. 100–101.

B. Acıl, 'Tosyevî’nin Tercemetü’l-Levâyih’i ve Tercüme Stratejisi' İstanbul Üniversitesi Türk Dili ve Edebiyatı Dergisi, Vol. LX No. 1 (2020): pp. 1-55.

M. Erbaş, 'Bir Osmanlı Müfessiri: Abdülmecîd b. eş-Şeyh Nasûh b. İsrâil (ö. 973/1565) ve Eserleri'. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, Vol. XXIV (2006): pp. 161–186.

M. Karacan, ‘Molla Câmî’nin Levâyih Adlı Eseri (İnceleme-Metin) MA Thesis (İstanbul: Marmara Üniversitesi, 2015), pp. 31–34, App. 2, 319.

Physical Description

Support: Textblock of cross-grained, medium-weight, externally sized and polished, ivory-coloured paper handmade in Europe watermarked with an anchor within a circle (most clearly legible on 22a–b), with ~9 laid lines per cm and ~28 mm between chain lines.

Extent: 8 folios (ff. 8)

Dimensions (leaf): 195 × 136 mm.

Dimensions (written): 143 × 98 mm.

Collation

1 quaternion. 1IV(11). Catchwords on the lower-left corners of the b sides throughout.

Condition

In good condition, with some staining.

Layout

Written in 1 to 2 columns with 16 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.

Hand(s)

Written in combination of clear black Ottoman style nasta‘līq with Arabic quotations in thuluth.

History

Origin: Probably completed in the Ottoman Empire; undated, but possibly Rabī‘ I 996 AH (Feb. 1588 CE).

Persian MS 893C

Summary of Contents: The Nay Nāmah (Book of the Reed) by Jāmī (1414-1492).

25a to 29a

Author: Jāmī, 1414-1492 جامی

Title: Nay Nāmah

Title: نی نامه

Incipit: (basmala) عشق جز نایی و ما جز نی نه ایم * او دمی بی ما و ما بی وی نه ایم... الکرم.

Explicit: برگ ۲۹ر (folio 29a): در بقا باقی شوی فانی تمام * باقی و جاوید باشی و السلام.

Colophon: برگ ۲۹ر (folio 29a): تمت الرساله بخمد الله و عونه و الفاتحه للجامی غفر له.

Colophon: Uninformative colophon.

Language(s): Persian

References

Hamid Algar, Jami (Oxford: University of Oxford Press, 2013), pp. 101–105.

Jāmī, Muraqqaʻ-i Nayʹnāmah-ʼi Jāmī. Edited by Muẓaffar Bakhtiyār (Tehran: Markaz-i Nashr-i Dānishgāhī, 1380 SH (2001 CE).

Lloyd Ridgeon, 'Naqshbandī Admirers of Rūmī in the Late Timurid Period'. Mawlana Rumi Review, Vol. 3 (2012): pp. 124–168.

Physical Description

Support: Textblock of cross-grained, medium-weight, externally sized and polished, flocked cream coloured paper handmade in Europe, with ~8 laid lines per cm and ~29 mm between chain lines.

Extent: 8 folios (ff. 8)

Dimensions (leaf): 195 × 136 mm.

Dimensions (written): 156 × 90 mm.

Collation

1 sexternion. 1VI(23). Catchwords on the lower-left corners of the b sides throughout.

Condition

Handle with caution. In good condition, with some staining. Fold-outs along the fore-edge

Layout

Written in 1 to 2 columns with 21 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.

Hand(s)

Written in clear Ottoman-style black naskh with subheaders and separators in red.

History

Origin: Probably completed in the Ottoman Empire; undated, but possibly 18th century CE.

Persian MS 893D

Summary of Contents: Select excerpts from the Ruq‘āt (Correspondence) of Jāmī (1414-1492).

29b to 31a

Author: Jāmī, 1414-1492 جامی

Title: Select Letters from Ruqa‘āt-i Jāmī

Title: رقعات

Incipit: (basmalla) برگ ۲۹پ (folio 29b): همایون نامهٔ چون باد دلبر *‌ بروی از عنبری تر بسته زیور

Explicit: برگ ۳۱ر (folio 31a): نبد کسی رند آمد تمام * زندگی این باشد و بس والسلام. تمت.

Colophon: No colophon.

Language(s): Persian

References

For a complete copy of this work held in the Rylands, see Persian MS 528.

H. Ethé, Catalogue of Persian manuscripts in the library of the India Office, Vol. 1 (London: Printed for the India Office by H. Hart, 1903), cols. 772–773, no. 1387–1389 [British Library IO Islamic 1691, &c.].

Jāmī, Classic Selections From Some of the Most Esteemed Persian Writers, Vol. 2: Raukate Jaume (Calcutta: Asiatic Lithographic Company Press 1828), pp. 1–101

Jāmī, Risālah-i munshaʼat-i Nūr al-Dīn ʻAbd al-Raḥman Jāmī: bih inz̤imām-i sharḥ-i ḥāl-i Mawlānā Jāmī, Khvājah Aḥrār, Sulṭān Ḥusayn Bāyqar va Amīr ʻAlīshīr Navāʼī. [Kabul]: Vizārat-i Iṭṭilāʻāt va Farhang: Riyāsat-i Intishārāt-i Kutub-i Bayhaqī, 1390 SH (2011 CE).

Jāmī, Nāmahʹhā va Munshaʼāt-i Jāmī. Edited by A. Urunbaev and A. Rahmanov Tehran: Mīrās-i Maktūb, 1378 SH [1999 CE].

P. Losensky, 'Jāmi i. Life and Works’', Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. XIV, Fasc. 5 (2008), pp. 469-475 .

E. Sachau and H. Ethé, Catalogue of the Persian, Turkish, Hindûstani, and Pushtû manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Vol. I (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1889), col. 614, no. 1894 and p. 635, no. 965 [Bodleian MS Ouseley 288, no. 35 and MS Fraser 51].

C. A. Storey, Persian Literature: A Bio-bibliographical Survey, Vol. III, Pt. 2 (London: Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 1990), p. 256, no. 432.

Physical Description

Support: Textblock of cross-grained, medium-weight, externally sized and polished, flocked cream coloured paper handmade in Europe, with ~8 laid lines per cm and ~29 mm between chain lines.

Extent: 8 folios (ff. 8)

Dimensions (leaf): 195 × 136 mm.

Dimensions (written): 156 × 90 mm.

Collation

1 quaternion and one bifolium 1IV(32)1(I)(34). Catchwords in all but the first work

Condition

In good condition, with some staining.

Layout

Written in 1 to 2 columns with 21 lines per page. Ruled with a misṭarah hand guide.

Hand(s)

Written in clear Ottoman-style black naskh.

History

Origin: Probably completed in the Ottoman Empire; undated, but possibly 18th century CE.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Bibliographical description based on an index created by Reza Navabpour circa 1993, derived from a manuscript catalogue by Michael Kerney, circa 1890s, concisely published as Bibliotheca Lindesiana, Hand-list of Oriental Manuscripts: Arabic, Persian, Turkish, 1898.

Manuscript description by Jake Benson in 2023 with reference to the volume in hand.

Availability

To book an in-person or online appointment to consult the manuscript, visit Using the Special Collections Reading Rooms. For any other enquiries please email uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk.

Digital Images

Manchester Digital Collections (full digital facsimile).

Bibliography

T. d'Hubert and A. Papas, Jāmī In Regional Contexts: The Reception of ʻAbd al-Raḥmān Jāmī's Works in the Islamicate World, ca. 9th/15th-14th/20th century. Leiden: Brill, 2019.

M. Kerney, Bibliotheca Lindesiana. Handlist of Oriental Manuscripts, Arabic, Persian, Turkish. ([Aberdeen]: Privately printed, 1898), p. 166, no. 893.

P. Losensky, 'Jāmi i. Life and Works’', Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. XIV, Fasc. 5 (2008), pp. 469-475.

Funding of Cataloguing

Iran Heritage Foundation

The John Rylands Research Institute

The Persian Heritage Foundation

The Soudavar Memorial Foundation

Subjects

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