Lot 30

Abu'l Fadl bin 'Iyad bin Musa bin 'Iyad al-Yahsubi (d.1149 AD), Al-Shifa bi-ta'rif Huquq al-Mustafa (The Restoration to the Health in the Explanation of the Prerogatives of the Elect), on the traditions relating to the prerogatives, the good manners, the miracles, the names, and the divine mission of the Prophet, copied by 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Yusuf Al-Sa'igh, Egypt or Syria, dated 795 AH/1392 AD

Estimate

15,000 - 20,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Ink & Gold on Paper

Arabic manuscript on paper, 200 leaves, 19 lines to the page, written in Naskhi script in black ink, headings in larger gold Thuluth, 17 pages later replacements although not modern, opening illuminated page comprising three text cartouches within rectangular panels filled with interlacing gold split palmettes against a blue ground, with a black border decorated with polychrome scrolling flowers, the title written in Thuluth script, with marginal illuminated roundels, later red morocco binding with gilt stamped central medallions filled with chinoisérie cloudbands and interlacing flowers, with flap

Catalogue Note

The work is divided into four qisms, the first and the second of which have four babs each, the third and fourth have only two. The babs are in turn subdivided into fasls. See A. Mingana, Catalogue of the Arabic Manuscripts in the John Rylands Library, Manchester, 1934, p.481, no. 304 [220].

The inscription on last page states that al-Imam Shaykh al-Islam Ahmad bin Ali bin Hajr al-'Asqalani (the same person who signed the inscription) has heard the whole recitation of this work. The inscription is dedicated to the Mamluk Sultan Az-Zahir Sayf-ad-Din Jaqmaq (r.1438-53 AD) before he became ruler as can be seen from his titles which appear to be those of a high ranking official.

There are six copies of the work in the Chester Beatty Library dated 17^th February 1365 (I,3104), undated, 14^th Century (V, 4203), 1778 (V,4231), 8^th February 1366 (VI, 4680), undated 14^th Century (VI, 4752) and 8^th August 1753 (VI, 4936). See A. Arberry, A Handlist of the Arabic Manuscripts, Dublin, 1963. See also Brockelmann, i, 369, Suppl.i, 630.

There are 16 copies of the work in the British Library the earliest dated 674 AH/1275 AD (IO ISL 4104). Biographies of the Prophet appear to have been popular during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods.