Anonymous.Fols. 77; 19 x 12.7 cm.; written surface 16.5 x 11 cm.; 21-32 lines to page; on glazed Arabic paper; in naskhi; with catchwords; some headings in red; with illumination.A collection of poems, poetical meters, musical measures and popular songs by various authors. The collection contains poems by ʻAbd Allāh al-Shabrāwī A.H. 1091-1172 A.D. 1680-1758/9, al-Maqqarī A.H. 1000-1041 A.D. 1591/2-1632 and others.Beg.: هذه موازىن زجل ىحتاج الىها من ىعانىهColophon: تمت کما في تزىىن الاسواق المذکورFloral illuminations on the inside of both covers. Text runs parallel with back of cover. MS in good condition; Arabic leather binding.Acquired from Brill, Leyden, A.D. 1900.
Alexandrian Summary (جوامع الإسكندرانيين) of Galen's (جالينوس ; d. ca 216)
De facultatibus naturalibus libri III(Περὶ δυνάμεων φυσικῶν βιβλία γ'; في القوى الطبيعية)translated from the Greek by Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq (حنين بن إسحق; d. 873). This copy was collated with a copy owned by Ibn al-Tilmīdh (ابن التلميذ; d. ca 1164), chief physician of the ‘Aḍudī Hospital in Baghdad and author of the
Baghdad Formulary(أقراباذين مدينة السلم ; see British Library, MS Or 8293).Begins (f. 52r, lines 2-8):جوامع كتاب جالينوسفي القوى الطبيعية علىرأي الإسكندرانيين.ترجمه حنين بن إسحق.مبدئ جوامع المقالة الأولى منهقال جالينوس القوى ثلثة أجناس. فمنها نفساني. ومنها حيواني.ومنها طبيعي. ...Ends (f. 82r, lines 11-12):والثالثة ان تكون العروق واسعة وفوهاتها واسعة.والرابعة ان تكون القوة الجاذبة قوية بإذن الله.Colophon (f. 82r, lines 13-17):تمت الجوامع من كتابجالينوس في القوى الطبيعيةوهي ثلث مقالات علىرأي الإسكندرانيين ترجمهحنين بن إسحقThere are two collation notes after the colophon stating that the copy was collated with its exemplar and with another manuscript.The texts is followed (f. 82r) by a brief medical definition of 'cough' (سعال).ff. 52r-82r
Treatise on mathematical geography for cartographers by Suhrāb (سهراب; see f. 3, line 1) composed between between 902 and 945 (see LeStrange, 'Description of Mesopotamia and Baghdād',
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society[1895], p. 2).The full title as given on the title page (f. 2r) is
Book of the Wonders of the Seven Climes to the Ends of the Inhabited World; How the Cities Are Arranged, the Seas Surround Them and Their Rivers Bifurcate; Knowledge of Their Mountains and Valleys, Roads and Paths by Sea and Land, and All that is Beyond the Equator; Longitude and Latitude by Means of the Ruler, Calculation and Enumeration; A Study of All that is Mentioned Clearly(كتاب عجائب الأقاليم السبعة إلى نهاية العمارة وكيف هيئة المدن وأحاطة البحار بها وتشقق أنهارها ومعرفة جبالها وأوديتها وطرقها ومسالكها في بحرها وبرّها وجميع ما وراء خط الاستوا والطول والعرض بالمسطرة والحساب والعدد والبحث على جميع ما ذكر بجلاء).According to the colophon (f. 67v, lines 4-8, transcribed below), this copy was made from the copy of a copy of a correct copy that Ibn al-Warraq (ابن الوراق, probably the bibliographer Ibn al-Nadīm [ابن النديم], d. ca 995) said was in the handwriting of the Syriac bishop and lexicographer al-Ḥasan ibn Bahlūl (الحسن ابن بهلول, called here ابن البهلول, better known by his Syriac name Bar Bahlul [ܒܪ ܒܗܠܘܠ]; fl. 10th century) translator from Syriac into Arabic of the
Kunnāsh, or medical compendium, of Ibn Serapion (ابن سرابيون; fl. 9th century).Due to the mention of Ibn Serapion in the colophon, scholars have often attibuted this work to Ibn Serapion. The colophon does not, however, mention Ibn Serapion in order to identify the author of the
‘Ajā’ib al-aqālīm al-sab‘ah, but rather to identify Bar Bahlūl. Furthermore, since the physician Ibn Serapion is thought to have written his
Kunnāshin 873, while the geographer Suhrāb is thought to have written the
‘Ajā’ib al-aqālīm al-sab‘ahsome time between 902 and 945, it is not likely that these two books are the works of the same author (see Ullmann,
Die Medizin im Islam[Leiden: Brill, 1970], p. 102 and LeStrange, 'Description of Mesopotamia and Baghdād',
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society[1895], p. 2).This copy was completed on 15 Rabī‘ I 709/23 August 1309 by an unnamed scribe (see colophon, f. 67v, line 7, transcribed below). It was the only copy known to the editors of the
‘Ajā’ib al-aqālīm al-sab‘ah, Mžik and LeStrange, who were unaware of Or. 10975.This copy contains the following diagrams and illustrations:Table of the latitudes of the seven climes (جدول عرض الأقاليم; f. 4r);Template for the construction of a world map, with graduated borders and the climes labelled (f. 4v);Template for the plotting of cities and way stations on a map (f. 5r);Twenty-five tables containing the names of cities with their latitudes and longitudes, arranged by clime (ff. 6r-9v);Illustration of the Citidel of Sārūs ibn Kandamān (قلعة ساروس ابن كندمان), apparently not drawn by a professional illustrator, but by the scribe who added the rubricated headings and overlinings on ff. 2v-10r.The text is followed by a poem of eight lines (f. 68v) entitled
The Great Reckoning of Praise, a Poem Written Above the Head of the Prophet(حساب الحمد الكبير قصيدة مكتوبة فوق رأس النبي), copied, according to a marginal note, by Murād ibn al-Ḥāj (مراد ابن الحاج).Begins (f. 2v, lines 2-4):إن أحسن ما افتتح به الكلام في كل رغبة ورهبة وحاجة حمد الله تعالىالحمد لله مفلج ومدحض الباطل وما حقه الذي اختار لنفسه الإسلام دينًا فأمربه وحاطه فوكّل بحفظه وضمن أظهاره على الدين كله ...Ends (ff. 67r, line 11-67v, line 3):... فإذاتكاملت العيون والأنهار وصحّت من أوائلها وجرت إلى أواخر مصبّاتها وتفرّعبعضها من بعض وصبّ بعضها إلى بعض فقد استتممت عملها واحتجت بعدذلك إلى أن تبتدئ بعمل صور المدن العظام المشهورة وكيف هيئة كلمدينة منها وإخبارها وصفتها ونعتها وشربها وانحراف قبلتها حتى تأتيعلى جميع مدن الأرض وبالله نستعين وإن أردت أن تكتب بعد صورةكل مدينة خبرها فاكتبه إلى جنبها أو حولها فإنه أحسن ما يكون وأظرفهColophon (f. 67v, lines 4-8):نقلت من نسخة نقلت من نسخة نقلت من نسخة صحيحة ذكر ابن الوراقأنها بخط ابن البهلول الذي أصلح كتاب ابن سرابيون وقوبل بها نسخة أخرى فكانتفيها زيادة وهي المواضع التي يذكر فيها حدود البلدان وقد كتبناها بعد هذاالموضع وكتب في منتصف ربيع الأول من سنة تسع وسبعمائة الهلاليةوالحمد لله رب العالمين وصلوته على سيدنا محمد النبي وآله الطاهرين وصحبه وسلامةCodex; ff. iv+68+ivMaterial: Eastern laid paperDimensions: 310 x 230 mm leaf [245 x 170 mm written]Foliation: British Museum foliation in pencilRuling:
Misṭarah; 15 lines per page; vertical spacing 7 lines per 10 cmScript:
NaskhInk: Black ink, with rubricated headings, tables and overlinings in red on ff. 2v-10rBinding: Red leather case binding with blind-tooled medallion, pendents and bordersCondition: Minor water damage, worse towards backMarginalia: Very fewSeal: f. 2r
Anonymous.Fols. 54; 18.5 x 12.7 cm.; written surface 14.4-14.9 x 8 cm.; 19 lines to page; on glazed European paper; in naskhi; with catchwords; entries in red.A commentary on al-Mukhtaṣar fī maʻrifat al-taqāwīm, a work on astronomy by Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī A.H. 597-672 A.D. 1200/1-1274.Beg.: بسم الله ... الذي جعل الاحوال الجرئىة في السفلىاتColophon: ولنقع ولنقنع من الکلام بهذا القدر حامدىن لمالك القدر ومصلىن على سىدالبشر محمد وآله الطىبىن. تم الکتاب بعون الله الملك الوهابMarginal notes on folio 45b. MS illustrated, and in good condition; Arabic leather binding with flap; blind stamped and tooling on cover and flap.Acquired from Brill, Leyden, A.D. 1900.Ahlwardt, Verzeichnis der arabischen Handschriften, 5679; Bibliothecae Bodleianae codicum MSS orientalium, II, 301; Catalogus codicum arabicorum Bibliothecae Academiae Lugduno-Batavae, 1178.
Anonymous.Fols. 78; 21.7-22.8 x 16.5 cm.; written surface 17.3 x 10.2 cm.; 25 lines to page; on glazed European paper; in naskhi; with catchwords; entries in red.A treatise on algebra. It is stated in the preface that this work is a redaction of the commentary by Muṣṭafá al-Ṭāʼī on al-Yāsamīnīyah, with additions from al-Qawāʻid al-ḥisābīyah wa-al-takhrīj ʻalá al-uṣūl al-jabrīyah.Beg.: بسم الله ... وبعد فهذه مقنعة کاملة في علم الجبر والمقابلةEnding: تقول اثني عشر وسبعا وخمسىن سبع فالشيء اىضا اثنان والله اعلم بالصواب تمMarginal notes and glosses. MS in good condition.Acquired from Brill, Leyden, A.D. 1900.
Anonymous.Fols. 10; 20.6 x 15.2 cm.; written surface 15.4 x 8.9 cm.; 17 lines to page; on glazed European paper; in naskhi; with catchwords; entries in red.A treatise on the astrolabe containing an introduction and fifteen chapters.Beg.: بسم الله ... الحمد لله المتحمد بالعظمة والجلالColophon: تمت الرسالة بحمد الله وعونه وصلى الله على سىدنا محمد وعلى اله وصحبه وسلمA few marginal notes; ruled marginal lines in red. MS in fair condition.Acquired from Brill, Leyden, A.D. 1900.
Anonymous.Fols. 244; 20.9 x 11.3 cm.; written surface 17 x 8.5 cm.; 17-23 lines to page; on glazed Arabic paper; in naskhi and thuluth; with vowel signs; headings and rubrications in red.A collection of parts of the Qurʼān, wise sayings, stories, prayers and poems by various authors.Beg.: القاضي صلاح الدىن ابوالصفاء خلىل بن اىبك ابن الالبلي الصفدي. اقول وقد رق عىشيEnding: وادع لي من هواك بالفرحMarginal notes and glosses. MS is in red, green and black throughout; some parts are within circles. On the two folios before the title page are three poems by Abū ʻAlī ibn Sīnā A.H. 370-428 A.D. 980-1036/7; several poems by the Sulṭān al-Malik al-Nāṣir ibn Dāwūd ibn al-Malik ʻĪsá ... ibn al-ʻĀdil Abī Bakr Muḥammad ibn Najm al-Dīn Ayyūb, who reigned A.H. 624-626 A.D. 1227-1228; the autograph and seal of an owner, Muṣṭafá; a statement that the MS is dedicated to the Ḥamawī Mosque; several verses of poetry; several verses by al-Thaʻālibī A.H. 350-429 A.D. 961/2-1037/8; several verses by Ibn ʻArabī A.H. 560-638 A.D. 1164/5-1240/1; a table of contents, with the headings within circles; a statement about the phases of the moon; and a birth and a death date. On the title page is the autograph of the copyist, Muḥammad al-Adyīkhī sic, dated A.H. 1006 A.D. 1597/8 and an Arabic seal inscribed: ʻʻwhat God wishes, there is no power but through God.ʼʼ After the ending are several dates of birth and death. Some small slips with poems on them are inserted between the folios; several folios are blank. MS in good condition; Arabic binding with flap; blind stamped and tooling on cover and flap.Acquired from Brill, Leyden, A.D. 1900.
Philosophical treatise on the question of whether souls are limited or infinite by Abū al-Ḥasan Thābit ibn Qurrah al-Ḥarrānī (أبو الحسن ثابت بن قرّة الحرّاني; d. 901) written in response to questions put to him by Abū Musá ‘Isá ibn Asad (أبو موسى عيسى بن أسد).The full title is given as (f. 12v, lines 4-6):من مسائل التي سأل عنها أبو موسىعيسى بن أسدأبا الحسن ثابت بن قرّة الحرّانيBegins (f. 12v, lines 7-9):قال ثابت بن قرّة في انتشا جواب سئل عنه من أمر النفوس هلهي متناهية أم لا إني أعجب ممن يقول إنه تبارك وتعالى لا يعلم الجزؤيات بليعلم الكليات ...Ends (f. 16v, lines 1-4):... وكذلك لو وضع أحد هاذين الحدينأولًا لكان يحتاج إلى أقامه البرهان على الحدين الآخرين حتى يعود الحد الذي كانغير مبرهن فيصبر محتاجًا إلى البرهان وهذه حال توجد في كثير من أمور الهندسيةوالرياضة وغيرهاColophon (f. 16v, lines 5-9):تمت المسائل بحمد الله ومعونتهوله الحمد دائمًا أبدًا سرمدًافهو له أهليتلو ذلك كتاب الخمسين مسئلةفي كسر المنطق لأبي النجا الفارضFf. 12v-16v