Islamic Traditions [IO Islamic 2234] کتاب بهجة المحافل

Tradition.

This manuscript is now IO Islamic 2234 in the India Office collections.

[metadata: Otto Loth, A Catalogue of the Arabic Manuscripts in the Library of the India Office, (volume 1), no. 173 here with further notations and hyperlinks].

173.

2234. Size 121/4 in. by 81/2 in.; foll. 138. About thirty-two lines in a page.

کتاب بهجة المحافل، و بغیة الاماثل، فی السیر و الاخلاق و الشمائل، فی سیرة سید الاواخر و الاوائل

A compendious work on the life, person, and character of Muḥammad, by ABU ZAKARÎYÂ ‘IMÂD AL-DÎN YAḤYA B. ABU BAKR ‘ÂMIRÎ (d. A. H. 893), who completed it, according to the epilogue, in Ramaḍan, 855 [=1451 CE].1 Cf. Ḥ. Kh. ii. 74, and Stewart’s Catal. 33.

This work is divided into three parts (قسم), a survey of which is given at the beginning. Part I. فی تلخیص سیرته صلعم من مولده الی وفاته و ما یتعلق بذلک, in six chapters. II. القسم الثانی فی اسمائه الکریمة و خلقته الوسیمة و خصائصه و معجزاته و باهر آیاته , in four chapters. III. القسم الثالث فی شمائله و فضائله و اقواله و افعاله فی جمیع احواله, in three chapters.

The author used the works of various predecessors, among whom he points out Ibn Isḥâḳ and Ṭabarî, Tirmidhî and Ibn Ḥibbân, and ‘Iyâḍ.

Plainly written, by Sa’îd b. Ṣalâḥ الفقیلی (?), apparently in Southern Arabia. Headings in large characters. Coloured lines round the pages of the first portion. Notes. Foll. 106 and 116 have been misplaced; they should stand together between foll. 60 and 61.

Signatures of various owners: first a prince named احمد بن حسن بن اسحق بن امیر المومنین المهدی لدین الله احمد بن حسن, Ramaḍan, 1158 [=1745 CE]; then ‘Abd al-rabb, of Kaukabân (ed. note: in Yemen: كوكبان), A.H. 1159 [=1746 CE]; after him his daughter Fâṭimah, A. H. 1177 [=1763-64 CE], etc.

[Coll. Fort William, 1825.]

1The present MS. has the date, Friday, 10 Ramaḍan which is not correct.