Sharḥ Manār al-anwār fī uṣūl al-fiqh, [1052, i.e. 1642].

Abstract

Fine composite copy of the commentary by Ferişteoğlu (Feriştehoğlu) Abdullatîf İbn Melek (ʻAbd al-Laṭīf ibn Firishtah, al-maʻrūf bi-Ibn Malak) upon al-Manār fī uṣūl al-fiqh (Manār al-anwār), a concise account of the foundations of law by Abū al-Barakāt ʻAbd Allāh ibn Aḥmad al-Nasafī (d.1310).Shelfmark: Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Special Collections Research Center, Isl. Ms. 544Origin: As appears in colophon on p.429, transcription of final section completed Ṣafar 1052 [May 1642]. Opening section (pp.17-214) likely copied somewhat earlier, perhaps early 17th century.Accompanying materials: a. Inventory cataloguing slip in hand of Winifred Smeaton Thomas -- b. Acquisitions slip from Yahuda -- c. Eighteen inserts mainly carrying glosses (paginated pp.25-26, 29-30, 35-36, 39-40, 43-44, 49-50, 55-56, 59-60, 69-70, 73-74, 79-80, 83-84, 103-104, 111-112, 121-122, 133-134, 147-148, 191-192).Former shelfmark: From interior of upper cover and spine label "IL 218" (likely supplied by Yahuda, see acquisitions slip).Binding: Pasteboards covered in once marbled laid paper with dark red-brown leather over edges/turn-ins (likely once also spine and fore edge flap, framed binding) ; Type II binding (with flap, now lost) ; board linings in untinted laid paper ; sewn in heavy light blue thread, two stations ; overall in poor condition with loss of flap, significant abrasion, lifting and losses of paper and leather, delamination of boards, staining, shrinkage, etc. ; housed in box for protection.Support: European laid paper of several types ; earlier section includes type with 8 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines spaced 28-30 mm. apart (horizontal), and crown-star-crescent watermark (see p.26, 38, 92-93, 160, etc.) and type with 9-10 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines spaced 26 mm. apart (horizontal), and crossbow in circle (trefoil above) watermark (see p.24, 42, etc.) ; later, final section includes type with 8 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines spaced 30 mm. apart (horizontal), and a different crown-star-crescent watermark (see p.224, 225, etc.) and a type with 7 laid lines per cm. (vertical), chain lines spaced 26 mm. apart (horizontal), and anchor in circle watermark (see p.330, etc.) ; some leaves tinted yellow.Decoration: Keywords and abbreviation symbols rubricated ; overlining in red ; in early section text of written area surrounded by red rule-border (pp.17-214) ; some textual dividers in the form of red dots.Script: Naskh ; at least two elegant Turkish hands ; following replacement leaves at opening (from p.19) an elegant Turkish hand, partially but irregularly seriffed with right-sloping head-serifs on some ascender letters, effect of tilt to the left, only casually pointed, curvilinear descenders, extension of horizontal strokes, free assimilation of letters (kāf followed by alif, etc.), point of final nūn set deep in bowl (even fully encircled occasionally), alif maqṣūrah often mardūdah, etc. ; from p.215 to close, another elegant though more compact Turkish hand, seriffed (nearly all ascender letters) with sharp tilt to the left, curvilinear descenders, free assimilation of letters, and pointing in curves rather than distinct dots ; replacement leaves at opening in still another naskh and a nastaʻlīq (talik).Layout: Written mainly in 25 lines per page ; frame-ruled.Collation: V-9+8 (9), 18 V(189), III+2 (197) ; chiefly quinions ; catchwords present ; pagination in pencil, Western numerals, supplied during digitization (includes inserts).Colophon: "Scribal," rectangular, reads "الحمد لله على التمام ولرسوله افضل السلام فرغت عن تنميق هذه النسخة في ان من الزمان ويسر اتمامه في صفر الخير لسنة اثنى وخمسين والف"Explicit: "حتى قتل صار شهيدا لانه يكون بادلا نفسه لعزاز دين الله تعالى ولاقامة حق الشرع تم تم"Incipit: "لله الحي الاحد حمد لا يحتويه الحد على ما اولانا علم الفروع ... اما بعد يقول عبد اللطيف بن فرشته ... ان ارباب البطانة واصحاب الفطانة من خلص احبابي ... قالوا ان كتاب المنار للامام ... حافظ الدين النسفي ... صائر اهالي الامصار انار ... نسألك ان نشرحه شرحا على طريق الحل مختصرا ..."Title from inscription on 'title page' (p.1).Ms. composite codex.Ḥājjī Khalīfah. Kashf al-ẓunūnBrockelmann, C. GAL,Fine composite copy of the commentary by Ferişteoğlu (Feriştehoğlu) Abdullatîf İbn Melek (ʻAbd al-Laṭīf ibn Firishtah, al-maʻrūf bi-Ibn Malak) upon al-Manār fī uṣūl al-fiqh (Manār al-anwār), a concise account of the foundations of law by Abū al-Barakāt ʻAbd Allāh ibn Aḥmad al-Nasafī (d.1310).Mode of access: Internet.Acquired in 1926 from the bookseller Isaac Benjamin S.E. Yahuda via purchase transacted on his behalf by Abraham Shalom Yahuda (1877-1951), his younger brother.Numerous marginal and interlinear glosses and corrections ; occasional notabilia (some rubricated) ; collation marks ("بلغ") and collation note at head of p.237 "نصف الاوراق عدد [؟] ٩٧"