Arabic, Persian and Gujarati Manuscripts: The Hamdani Collection in the Library of the Institute of Ismaili Studies

294 Pages·2011·22.59 MB·English

Arabic, Persian and Gujarati Manuscripts
The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Previously published catalogues of manuscripts in the Library of
The Institute oflsmaili Studies:
1. Adam Gacek, Catalogue of Arabic Manuscripts in the Library of
The Institute ofismaili Studies, vol. 1 (1984)
2. Adam Gacek, Catalogue of Arabic Manuscripts in the Library of
The Institute ofismaili Studies, vol. 2 (1985)
3. Delia Cortese, Ismaili and Other Arabic Manuscripts: A Descriptive
Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of The Institute of Ismaili
Studies (2000)
4. Delia Cortese, Arabic Ismaili Manuscripts: The Zahid ~lt Collection
in the Library of The Institute ofismaili Studies (2003)
Arabic, Persian and Gujarati
Manuscripts
The Hamdani Collection in the Library of
The Institute ofI smaili Studies
Franc;:ois de Blois
I.B.Tauris Publishers
LONDON • NEW YORK
in association with
The Institute oflsmaili Studies
LONDON
Published in 2011 by I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd
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in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies
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Copyright© Islamic Publications Ltd, 2011
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ISBN 978 1 84885 764 3
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Typeset in Minion Tra for The Institute oflsmaili Studies
Printed and bound in Great Britain by TJ International, Padstow
~
The Institute of Ismaili Studies
The lnstitu te of lsmaili Studies was established in 1977 with the object
of promoting scholarship and learning on Islam, in the historical as
well as contemporary contexts, and a better understanding of its rela
tionship with other societies and faiths.
The Institute's programmes encourage a perspective which is not
confined to the theological and religious heritage of Islam, but seeks
to explore the relationship of religious ideas to broader dimensions
of society and culture. The programmes thus encourage an interdis
ciplinary approach to the materials of Islamic history and thought
Particular attention is also given to issues of modernity that arise as
Muslims seek to relate their heritage to the contemporary situation.
Within the Islamic tradition, the Institute's programmes promote
research on those areas which have, to date, received relatively little
attention from scholars. These include the intellectual and literary
expressions of Shi'ism in general, and lsmailism in particular.
In the context of Islamic societies, the Institute's programmes are
informed by the full range and diversity of cultures in which Islam is
practised today, from the Middle East. South and Central Asia. and
Africa to the industrialised societies of the West. thus taking into con
sideration the variety of contexts which shape the ideals, beliefs and
practices of the faith.
These objectives are realised through concrete programmes and
activities organised and implemented by various departments of the
Institute. The Institute also collaborates periodically, on a programme
specific basis, with other institutions ofleamingin the United Kingdom
and abroad.
v
vi ARABIC, PERSIAN AND GUJARATI MANUSCRIPTS
The Institute's academic publications fall into a number of inter
related categories:
1. Occasional papers or essays addressing broad themes of the rela
tionship between religion and society, with special reference to
Islam.
2. Monographs exploring specific aspects of Islamic faith and culture,
or the contributions of individual Muslim thinkers or writers.
3. Editions or translations of significant primary or secondary texts.
4. Translations of poetic or literary texts which illustrate the rich her
itage of spiritual, devotional and symbolic expressions in Muslim
history.
5. Works on Ismaili history and thought, and the relationship of the
Ismailis to other traditions, communities and schools of thought in
Islam.
6. Proceedings of conferences and seminars sponsored by the Institute.
7. Bibliographical works and catalogues which document manu
scripts, printed texts and other source materials.
This book falls into category seven listed above.
In facilitating these and other publications, the Institute's sole aim
is to encourage original research and analysis of relevant issues. While
every effort is made to ensure that the publications are of a high aca
demic standard, there is naturally bound to be a diversity of views,
ideas and interpretations. As such, the opinions expressed in these
publications must be understood as belonging to their authors alone.
Contents
List ofI llustrations ix
Acknowledgements xi
Introduction xiii
Genealogical Tables xviii
Notes on the Catalogue Entries xx
History oft he Hamdani Collection ofM anuscripts
by Abbas Hamdani xxv
The Catalogue 1
I. Bibliographical Works 3
I I. Ismaili Writings of the 0 lder Yemeni School 5
III. Ismaili Authors in North Africa, Egypt and
Persia during the Fatimid Period 15
N. The 'Treatises of the Sincere Brethren' and
Related Texts 84
V. Ismaili Authors of the Second Yemeni (Sulayl)id
and Tayyibi) School 89
VI. Ismaili (Tayyibi) Authors in India 145
VII. Works by Non-Ismaili Authors 179
a. Works on the Islamic religious sciences by
non-Ismailis 179
(i) Zaydis 179
(ii) Twelver Shi'is 182
(iii) Sunnis 184
b. Arabic language 186
c. Arabic poetry 187
vii
viii ARABIC, PERSIAN AND GUJARA'TI MANUSCRIPTS
d. Ornate prose (adab, insha) 189
e. History (ta'rfkh) and genealogies (ansab) 199
f. Philosophy (jalsafa) and logic (mantiq) 207
g. Mathematics and astronomy 209
h. Medicine and pharmacology 217
i. Occult arts (sil;lr) 220
j. Manuscripts of mixed content 222
VIII. Miscellaneous, Unidentified and
Unclassified Works 230
IX. Manuscripts in Gujarati Script 238
Index of Titles 239
Index ofA uthors 246
Index ofS cribes 252
Index ofM anuscripts Dated (or Datable) before cE 1800 254
Bibliography 256
List of Illustrations
Figures
1. Ra/:lat al-'aql, l;lamid al-Din al-Kirmani xxii
(Ms. 1455/fol. 1a).
2. Fay<;! Allah al-Hamdani (ca. 1798-1876). xxxi
3. Kitab al-'alim wa'l-ghultim, ascribed to Man~ur al-Yaman 8
(Ms.1402/fol.lb).
4. Da'a'im al-isltim, al-Qa<;li al-Nu'man (Ms. 1414/p. 20). 24
5. Ra/:lat al-'aql, l;lamid al-Din al-Kirmani 55
(Ms. 1454/fol. 127b).
6. Ra/:lat al-'aql, l;lamid al-Din al-Kirmaru 56
(Ms. 1454/fol. 128a).
7. Kitab al-riytuj, l;lamid al-Din al-Kirmani 64
(Ms. 1458/p. 139).
8. Kitab al-riyt'Uj, l;lamid al-Din al-Kirmani 65
(Ms. 1458/p. 338).
9. Dtwtin, al-Mu'ayyad fi'l-Din al-Shirazi 75
(Ms. 1471/fol. 121a).
10. Munfrat al-ba$ti'ir, al-Sultan al-Khattab 97
(Ms. 1490/fol. 34a).
11. Dtwan, al-Khattab (Ms. 1492/fol. 108a). 100
12. Tanbth al-ghtifiltn, l;latim b. Ibrahim al-l;lamidi 116
(Ms. 1506/pp. 1-2).
13. Kitab taqwtm al-abkam al-shar'iyya, anonymous 144
(Ms. 1535/p. 3).
ix
X ARABIC, PERSIAN AND GUJARA TI MANUSCRIPTS
14. Qi$$at Ghayat al-Jamal, A}J.mad b. Ibrahim al-Ya'buri 153
al-Hamdani (Ms. 1544/fol. 1a).
15. Dfwan Mubammadf, Mu}J.ammad 'Aual-Hamdam 168
(Ms. 1565/fol. 1a).
16. Atbaq al-dhahab, 'Abd al-Mu'min b. HibatAllah 195
(Ms. 1638/fol. 25a).
17. al-Fawa'id al-mukhtabara min insha' al-muwaqqi'fn 198
al-mu'tabara, Mu}J.ammad b. Mu}J.ammad al-Sakhawi
(Ms. 1639/fol. 128a).
18. An anonymous work on Yemeni genealogies 202
(Ms. 1640/fol. 1a).
19. Three Greek treatises on spherical geometry and optics 210
(Ms. 1647/fol. 35a).
20. Kitab minhaj al-dukkan, al-Kuhin (Ms. 1655/fol. 2b). 219
Colour plates
1. Da'a'im al-islam, al-Qagi al-Nu'man (Ms. 1413/p. 43).
2. Kitab al-riyacj, I:;Iamid al-Dm al-Kirmam (Ms. 1458/p. 1).
3. Kanz al-walad, Ibrahim b. al-I:;Iusayn al-I:;Iamidi (Ms.1499/fol.13a).
4. Fragment of a work on the history of the Tayyibi da'wa in Yemen,
I:;Iasan b. Idris b. 'Ali(?) (Ms. 1534/table).
5. Rawcjat al-albab wa tu]Jfat al-a]Jbab wa nukhbat al-a]Jsab li ma'rifat
al-ansab, al-Mu'ayyad Mu}J.ammad b. 'Abd Allah (Ms. 1642/fol.
57b).
6. !ami' al-mabadi' wa'l-ghayat, al-Marrakushi (Ms. 1648/p. 298).
7. A collection of treatises on mathematics and astronomy, Baha'
al-Dm al-'Amili (Ms. 1649/fol. 54a).
8. A collection of books on magic (Ms. 1657/fol. 119b ).