Abu Hamid Muhammad Bin Muhammad Al-Ghazali (d.1111 AD), Ihya Ulum Al-Din ('The Revival of the Religious Sciences'), Volume IV, Al-Munijat ('the ways of salvation'), Copied by 'Ali Ibn Musa bin Muhammad (known as 'Ibn al-Qabbuni'), Near East, dated Sunday 24 Sha'ban 821 AH/1418-9 AD

Arabic manuscript on different coloured papers, 452 leaves plus 3 flyleaves, 25 lines to the page, written in Naskh script in black ink, key words picked out in red, red morocco binding with stamped medallions with chinoiserie cloud bands, marbled doublures, with flap

In fairly good overall condition, some stains and losses to leaf edges at the opening, opening three leaves loose, binding repaired at spine and flap, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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Born in 1058 AD in the Iranian province of Khurusan, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (given the honorific title hujjat al-Islam, 'the Proof of Islam') was one of the greatest jurist-theologians of the medieval Islamic period and a prolific author on the religious sciences. The present manuscript is approximately one quarter of his greatest and best-known work, Ihya' 'ulum al-din, or 'The Revival of the Religious Sciences', in which he attempted to integrate the major disciplines of Islamic religion - theology and law, ethics and mysticism. It comprises ten books within four quarters; 'ibadat (religious duties); 'adat (social duties); al-muhlikat (what leads to damnation) and al-munjiat (what leads to salvation). The latter quarter, al-munjiat, represented by the present manuscript, is further divided into ten chapters: Forgiveness (1); Patience and Thankfulness (2); Hope and Fear (3); Poverty and Abstention (4); Monotheism and Confirmation (5); Love and Longing (6); Intention and Honesty (7); Observation and Accounting (8); Reflection (9) and finally Death (10).

There are at least nine copies of Ihya' 'ulum al-din in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, see A. Arberry, A Handlist of the Arabic Manuscripts, Dublin, 1956, volume II, p.45, no.3353. Also see Brockelmann i. 422, Suppl.i.748. An earlier copy of the fourth part, al-munjiat, was sold in these rooms, 6 April 2011, lot 205.