Wadh.Minasian 315 (The Ferdowsi Library, Wadham College, University of Oxford)

Oriental Manuscripts Minasian Collection

Summary of Contents: This is the first volume of the four volumes of works written by the author on the principles of Shaykhiyah beliefs. The first volume is on Monotheism, the second on Resurrection, the third on Imamah (Shia doctrine), and the fourth on Knowing Shia. The first volume (present work) has two parts. The first part is on Knowing God, comprised of four articles: (1) Knowing the nature of God; (2) Uniqueness of God's attributes; (3) Uniqueness of God's actions; and (4) Uniqueness of prayers to God. The second part is on Knowing Prophets, again comprised of four articles: (1) The Need for Prophets in Every Age; (2) Proof for the Prophet of the End Time; (3) Knowing the Prophet of the End Time; and (4) The Nature of the Mi‘raj.

Language(s): Persian

Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence

Title: Irshād al-ʿavām

Title: ارشاد العوام

Author: ‎Kirmānī, Muḥammad Karīm Hān, 1810-1871‏ ‎Kirmānī, Muḥammad Karīm bin Ibrāhīm, 1225-1288 AH,1810-1871 کرمانی، محمد کریم خان، ۱۸۱۰-۱۸۷۱ کرمانی، محمد کریم بن ابراهیم (۱۲۲۵-۱۲۸۸ ق/۱۸۱۰-۱۸۷۱ م)‏

Incipit: بسمله، ستایش خدایی را سزاست که پرورندهٔ جهانیان است… و بعد چنین گوید [بندهٔ اثیم کریم بن ابراهیم] که چون دیدم بعضی از مومنین را که طالب تصحیح اعتقادات حقه بودند و از فهم زبان عربی محروم… و بعضی هم التماس کردند که از این فقیر که کتابی برای آنها بنویسم بلفظ‌هایی که مانوس طبعهای ایشان باشد… و استخاره از خداوند عالم کردم و پس از رخصت در نوشتن این کتاب شروع کردم…

Explicit: … هر کس انصاف دهد میداند که کتابی شد که از اوّل اسلام تا حال در زبان فارسی کتابی باین جامعی و باین وضوح و عامیانه و باین آسانی و باین پختگی و باین نوع دلیلها نوشته نشده است… بهمین جا این جلد را ختم میکنیم و جلدی دیگر ابتداء میکنیم بجهت معاد و دو قست دیگر از کتاب و لا قوه الا بالله و صلی الله علی… تمام شد بر دست مصنفش حقیر فقیر [کریم بن ابراهیم] حامدا مصلیا مستغفرا در ششم شهر رجب‌المرجب سنه ۱۲۶۳.

Colophon:

This copy should have been one of the first copies scribed of this work.

References

Sequence Number in the Persian Catalogue:

FAW 58

Similar copies in other libraries:

MAL, 5/389
NLI, 5/6301

Similar manuscripts listed in other catalogues:

ALZ, 1/515
DEN, 1/681
FAP, 1/228

Printed editions:

Tehran, 1271 AH
Mumbai, 1268 AH
Kerman, 1353-1355 AH

On the Web:

Digitized version of another copy of this work.

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Western paper (watermark), natural buff, varying thickness (thin, regular and thick), glossy.

Extent: 2+165 ff.

Dimensions (leaf): 20.5 × 15 cm.

Dimensions (written): 18 × 9.5 cm.

Layout

19 lines per page.

Hand(s)

Cursive, graceful Naskh, regular hand, several hands. The scribe's name is erased at the beginning and end of the copy.

Decoration

Rubricated titles; rubricated lines above some terms and expressions.

Additions: ‌Note on f. 1a about the purchase of the copy: 1335 / 1917. Notes on the first end paper: Ownership note, 14 Muharram 1304 AH/ 1887

Binding

Brown leather, 21.5 × 16 cm, front + back cover, leather + pasteboard.

History

Origin: At the end of the copy, a date is given as the date it was written (1263 AH / 1847 CE), but it does not seem to be the date it was scribed. Unknown place of origin

Provenance and Acquisition

Donated to The Ferdowsi Library by Dr Caro Minasian in 1972.

Record Sources

This record was created by Dr Mohammad Emami based on the information published in the Persian catalogue by Dr Ali Mir-Ansari (Catalogue of the Persian and Arabic Manuscripts in the Ferdowsi Library, Wadham College, University of Oxford (Minasian Collection), Tehran: Miras-e Maktoob, 2016).

Availability

Entry to the Library is permitted upon presentation of a valid university ID card (for admissions procedures, please visit Wadham College Library, Persian Studies Section). Please Contact persian.library@wadham.ox.ac.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript.

Key to bibliographical abbreviations of alternative versions:

Libraries:

AQR: Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi; FAW: Ferdowsi Library, Wadham College, University of Oxford (Minasian Collection); GIE: Great Islamic Encyclopedia Library, Manuscripts; GIP: Great Islamic Encyclopedia Library, Photographed and Microfilmed Manuscripts; GUL: Library of Ayatollah Gulpayigani; MAJ: Library, Museum and Documentation Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly; MAL: Malek National Museum and Library; MNL: Mar'ashi Najafi Library; NLI: National Library of Iran; SEP: Sepahsalar (Shahid Motahari) Mosque and School of Tehran; TCL: Tabriz Central Public Library; UTL: Central Library of University of Tehran;

Catalogues:

ALZ: الذریعه; ARP: فهرست کتاب‌های چاپی عربی; COM: فهرست مشترک نسخه‌های خطی فارسی; DEN: فهرستواره دست‌نوشته‌های ایران (دنا); FAM: فهرست نسخه‌های خطی فارسی; FAP: فهرست کتاب‌های چاپی فارسی; FIH: فهرستواره کتاب‌های فارسی; KAS: کشف الظنون عن اسامی الکتب و الفنون; RAY: ریحانة الادب فی تراجمِ المعروفین بالکنیة او اللّقب; TAB: طبقات اعلام الشیعه.

Union Catalogue of Manuscripts from the Islamicate World