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Kinali-zade Ali Chelebi, Akhlaq-i Alai ('The Morals of 'Ali'), Turkey, Ottoman, Dated 973 AH/1565 AD
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- paper, ink, leather
Ottoman Turkish manuscript on paper, 350 leaves plus 2 flyleaves, 17 lines to the page, written in black nasta'liq script, keywords in red ink, occasional notes in the margin, opening folio with headpiece decorated with scrolling foliate and split-palmette motifs in colours and gold, with Bismillah in white thuluth script on a gold ground, later binding with cloth-covered boards and brown morocco spine
Catalogue Note
inscriptions
Various seal impressions reveal that this manuscript has been in different private hands including Muhammad 'Ali Mir with his seal dated 1137 AH/1724 AD.
This early manuscript of Kinali-zade Ali Chelebi's (1510-72) most famous work is an important source for the study of Ottoman culture. The Akhlaq-i Alai is a comprehensive work on the topic of moral and ethical behaviour within a variety of circumstances including the family, state ethics and political philosophy. For a further discussion of this work, please see the online version of this catalogue.
The work is divided into three parts: the problems of individual ethics and ethics in general, followed by family ethics, and ending with a discussion on state ethics and political philosophy. Within these discussions, Kinali-zade covers several topics, including, among others, treatments and cures of illnesses; good conduct in the home, the proper treatment of infants and children, acceptable behaviour while eating and drinking, and proper conduct in the presence of a sultan. One of the most important issues addressed by Kinali-zade is the education of children, where he emphasises his strong views on the role of parents in this process, using his works as a reminder to parents of their responsibilities toward the education and upbringing of their children. The work also offers a brief discussion on the Mathnavi of Jalal al-Din Rumi, as well as an account of the deeds of Alexander the Great.
Kinali-zade Ali Chelebi
Kinali-zade Ali Chelebi was born in Isparta in 916 AH/1510 AD. He taught in several prestigious madrasas in Edirne, Bursa, Kutahya and Istanbul, including the Suleymaniyye Mosque upon its completion in 966 AH/1559 AD, where he reached the highest rank in academia. In 970 AH/1563 AD he became the qadi of Damascus, where he remained nearly four years before successive appointments to Cairo, Bursa, Edirne and Istanbul. He reached the high rank of qadi-asker of Anatolia in 1571, and in 1572, while in Edirne with Selim II, he died from an attack of gout. Kinali-zade Ali Chelebi became renowned for his supreme mastery of the Arabic language, and his ability to memorise and recite numerous hadith and poems in Arabic, Persian and Turkish. In addition to his literary genius, he was also extremely knowledgeable in the majority of scientific subjects, including mathematics, astronomy and rhetoric.
Various seal impressions reveal that this manuscript has been in different private hands including Muhammad 'Ali Mir with his seal dated 1137 AH/1724 AD.
This early manuscript of Kinali-zade Ali Chelebi's (1510-72) most famous work is an important source for the study of Ottoman culture. The Akhlaq-i Alai is a comprehensive work on the topic of moral and ethical behaviour within a variety of circumstances including the family, state ethics and political philosophy. For a further discussion of this work, please see the online version of this catalogue.
The work is divided into three parts: the problems of individual ethics and ethics in general, followed by family ethics, and ending with a discussion on state ethics and political philosophy. Within these discussions, Kinali-zade covers several topics, including, among others, treatments and cures of illnesses; good conduct in the home, the proper treatment of infants and children, acceptable behaviour while eating and drinking, and proper conduct in the presence of a sultan. One of the most important issues addressed by Kinali-zade is the education of children, where he emphasises his strong views on the role of parents in this process, using his works as a reminder to parents of their responsibilities toward the education and upbringing of their children. The work also offers a brief discussion on the Mathnavi of Jalal al-Din Rumi, as well as an account of the deeds of Alexander the Great.
Kinali-zade Ali Chelebi
Kinali-zade Ali Chelebi was born in Isparta in 916 AH/1510 AD. He taught in several prestigious madrasas in Edirne, Bursa, Kutahya and Istanbul, including the Suleymaniyye Mosque upon its completion in 966 AH/1559 AD, where he reached the highest rank in academia. In 970 AH/1563 AD he became the qadi of Damascus, where he remained nearly four years before successive appointments to Cairo, Bursa, Edirne and Istanbul. He reached the high rank of qadi-asker of Anatolia in 1571, and in 1572, while in Edirne with Selim II, he died from an attack of gout. Kinali-zade Ali Chelebi became renowned for his supreme mastery of the Arabic language, and his ability to memorise and recite numerous hadith and poems in Arabic, Persian and Turkish. In addition to his literary genius, he was also extremely knowledgeable in the majority of scientific subjects, including mathematics, astronomy and rhetoric.