Manuscripts in Hamdani Collection

The Muhammad Ali Hamdani Collection in 国产视频 Special Collections represents a large segment of the Hamdani family鈥檚 library collected over seven generations of this eminent family of scholars from the Da鈥檜di Bohra听community in India and Yemen. A large part of the manuscripts are Ismaili religious writings, but there are also a good number of books of general Islamic as well as secular content, and these give a rare insight into the whole cultural range of a learned family of Indian religious scholars.

1/7

Munirat al-Basa示ir al-Sultan al-Khattab

Al-Khattab b. al-Hasan b. Abi鈥檒-Hufaz al-Hajuri al-Hamdani, a chieftain in north-western Yemen, produced this work in the formative period of the Tayyibi 诲补士飞补. Copied in 1598, this particular manuscript is the oldest recorded codex of al-Khattab鈥檚 work. The codex addresses ten questions put forward to the author.

2/7

Diwan Muhammadi Muhammad Ali al-Hamdani

This 20th century manuscript, copied by the author鈥檚 grandson, is a collection of poems composed by Muhammad Ali b. Fayd Allah al-Hamdani (1249/1833 to 1315/1898).

The poems relate to different themes which include praise of the Prophet Muhammad and his family, description of his pilgrimage to Mecca, of his stay in Egypt, and other events in his life.听Besides focusing on Prophet Muhammad, the manuscript also includes eulogies on the 47th听and 48th听da'is (Najm Al-Din听and Husam al-Din).

3/7

Kitab Taqwim al-Ahkam al-Shar'iyya

This 16^th century codex, which refers to al-Oadi听al-Nu士man, is a succinct compilation of legal judgements.听It is possibly composed in Fatimid Egypt or in Sulayhid or post-Sulayhid Yemen.

4/7

Da'a'im al-Islam

A folio is from the first volume of the听Da a'im听al- Islam,听the principal book of law of the Fatimid state (909 - 1171),听which deals with religious law in particular. Da'a'im is written Abu听Al-Qadi听Abu Hanifa al-Nu'man who, having served the first four Fatimid Imma-caliphs in different capacities, was the听most important authority on Fatimd law. The manuscript showm here was听copied in 1827.

5/7

Three Greek Treatises on Spherical Geometry and Optics

This extensively illustrated manuscript contains Arabic versions of three ancient scientific treatises, Kitab al-Ukar听by Theodosius,听Kitab al-Kurra al-Mutaharriqa听by Autolycus and听Kitab Ikhtilaf al-Manazir听by Euclid. These are older and rarer versions than those redacted by Nasir听al-Din听al-Tusi in his work,听Tahrir al- Majisti.

6/7

Kitab al-Riyad by Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani

This important philosophical work is by one of the most influential early Ismaili 诲补士颈s and authors. The Hamdani manuscript is the oldest known copy of the work; it was copied in the year 765 AH, or 1364 CE.

顿补士颈s did not always agree and in fact often debated ideas with one another.听Kitab al-Riyad听is Kirmani鈥檚 critique of an earlier work by al-Sijistani, which was itself a critique of a treatise by Abu Hatim al-Razi, and Razi鈥檚 work was in its turn a refutation of a still earlier author, probably al-Nakhshabi.

7/7

A folio from Kitab al-Riyad by Hamid al-Din al-Kirmani

This important philosophical work is by one of the most influential early Ismaili da'is and authors. The Hamdani manuscript is the oldest known copy of the work; it was copied in the year 765 AH听/ 1364 CE.

顿补士颈s did not always agree and in fact often debated ideas with one another.听Kitab al-Riyad听is Kirmani鈥檚 critique of an earlier work by al-Sijistani, which was itself a critique of a treatise by Abu Hatim al-Razi, and Razi鈥檚 work was in its turn a refutation of a still earlier author, probably al-Nakhshabi.