Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets
Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets
SELECTIONS FROM AL-GHAZALI'S IHYA ULUWM AL-DIN ('REVIVAL OF THE RELIGIOUS SCIENCES'), IN 3 VOLUMES, MOROCCO, TWO VOLUMES DATED 721 AH/ 1321 AD
Auction Closed
October 27, 04:55 PM GMT
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
SELECTIONS FROM AL-GHAZALI'S IHYA ULUWM AL-DIN ('REVIVAL OF THE RELIGIOUS SCIENCES'), IN 3 VOLUMES, MOROCCO, TWO VOLUMES DATED 721 AH/ 1321 AD
Arabic manuscripts on vellum, 3 volumes of 14, 17 and 20 folios respectively, 19 lines per page written in neat Maghribi script in brown ink, marginal commentary, later red leather bindings with stamped central medallions and border bands
25 by 18.5cm. and slightly smaller
Ex-collection Martin Schoyen, MS 5321.
Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali's was one of the greatest scholars of the medieval Islamic world. He was an exceptional theologian, jurist and religious philosopher and influenced Islamic religious scholarship more than any other scholar from the twelfth century onwards.
The Ihya Uluwm al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences) was the greatest of his works and was immediately influential, remaining so to this day. "The Ihya is a complete guide for the devout Muslim to every aspect of religious life..." (Watt 1965, p.1040).
The present volumes contain excerpts from various chapters including those on the mysteries of worship, the etiquette of travel, music and singing, condemnation of the material world, condemnation of miserliness and love of wealth, faith in divinity, and on love, longing, intimacy and contentment. On the title pages of two volumes are notes giving the date of copying as Rabi al-Awwal 721/April 1321, and naming an early owner (possibly the original patron) as Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Shari.