Arts of the Islamic World

Arts of the Islamic World

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 146. AN ANTHOLOGY OF MYSTICAL VERSE, COPIED BY ‘UMAR FAWZI AL-KUTAHI, TURKEY, OTTOMAN, DATED 1129 AH/1717 AD.

AN ANTHOLOGY OF MYSTICAL VERSE, COPIED BY ‘UMAR FAWZI AL-KUTAHI, TURKEY, OTTOMAN, DATED 1129 AH/1717 AD

Auction Closed

October 23, 04:16 PM GMT

Estimate

7,000 - 10,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

AN ANTHOLOGY OF MYSTICAL VERSE, COPIED BY ‘UMAR FAWZI AL-KUTAHI, TURKEY, OTTOMAN, DATED 1129 AH/1717 AD


Arabic and Ottoman Turkish on paper, 66 leaves, plus 2 fly-leaves, 19 lines to the page, written in naskh in black ink, text divided into two columns, ruled in grey, titles and important sentences in yellow, red and blue, f.1b with a polychrome and gold illuminated frame, several diagrams including Mecca on f.45a, in brown leather stamped binding


20.5 by 14.5cm.

This volume consists of various devotional poems by an unrecorded poet whose pen-name is Meftun. Many of the verses are on the subject of abjad, the system by which the letters of the Arabic alphabet are given a numerical value. As here, the numerical values of various words were frequently assigned a mystical meaning. The mystical orientation of the poet is confirmed by the mention in the verses of the Naqshbandi Sufi order and of the Sufi leader Hajji Bektash Veli. The longest section in the manuscript is a group of devotional poems (ilahiyat) arranged alphabetically by rhyme according to the abjad sequence. Many of the poems are dated with abjad chronograms, including the final poem which appears to have been composed in 1055 AH (1645-46 AD).


The manuscript includes mystical diagrams including 'The Seal of Noble Prophecy', a genealogical tree of the Prophet and the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs going back to Abraham, a diagram of the Prophets of revelation (Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, David) and their books (Qur’an, Bible, Torah, Psalms). The devotional poems are arranged in the shape of trees in praise of the Prophet, Companions, Jesus and Abraham.