Newsletter No. 2, 1996 by Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation

Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation

Chairman’s Address In the year that has passed since the publication o f its first

Al-Furqan has asked institutes and individuals w orking in the

new sletter, Al-Furqan Foundation

field o f Islam ic m anuscripts to

has continued its work prom oting

provide up-dates o f their work.

study and research in the field o f

The first group o f these progress

Islam ic manuscripts. Al-Furqan has continued to

reports are show n here. T his new sletter thus reflects the

catalogu e and handlist co llectio n s

continued work — not on ly o f A l-

o fls la m ic m anuscripts, to publish

Furqan — but o f a global

these catalogu es and to edit

com m unity d evoted to the care and

im portant texts. It has organised lectures,

study o f Islam ic m anuscripts. W e hope that scholars and

concerts and exh ibition s m eant to

researchers w ill be pleased with

increase public aw areness o f the

the d evelop m en ts in Al-Furqan

Islam ic heritage and civilisation . It has held a con feren ce on the preservation and conservation o f

continued com m unication w e can

Islam ic m anuscripts, with the aim

«11 ach ieve m ore in the field o f

— in co-operation with other institutes in the sam e field — o f

Islam ic manuscripts.

form ulating an operational p olicy

service to scholars and sp ecialists

to safeguard manuscripts.

^ewslette

Al-Furqan has also m aintained

N U MB E R TWO 1996

su ggestion s for A l-Furqan’s future a c tiv itie s -

CONTENTS al Furqan n e w s

A ddress . . . . . . . . . . .

C om m un ity.......................................

Conferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Encyclopaedia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Exhibitions .......................................

Forthcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . .

Graduates ..........................................

G u e s ts .................................................

Honours ............................................

Lectures ............................................

Library ..............................................

Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

G lobal M ss N e w s

Forthcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . .

Notice-Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Portrait of an Institute . . . . . . . . . .

in its field. W e w elco m e com m en ts on the new sletter, and constructive

institutes in volved in the study o f preservation.

C ataloguing.......................................

Al-Furqân is keen to be o f

and expanded its links w ith other Islam ic manuscripts and their

Chairman’s

Islam ic H eritage F oundation’s annual new sletter, and that through

AL -F UR Q A N ISLAMIC HERITAGE FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER ‫ا‬

A h m ed Z aki Yamani

Structure o f the Foundation FOUNDER The Yamani Cultural ‫ ه‬Charitable Foundation BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Chairman Dr Tal'at al-Ghunaimi, Member Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu, Member Dr Zaki Mustapha, Member INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL Chairman: Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani Professor Nasseruddin al-Assad (Jordan) Professor George Atiyeh (United States of America) Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu (Turkey) Sheikh Hamad al-Jasir (Saudi Arabia) Professor Enes Karic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) Professor Salahuddin al-Munajjid (Saudi Arabia) Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr (United States of America) Professor Annemarie Schimmel (Germany) Mr Mahmoud Shakir (Egypt) Professor Abdel Hadi al-Tazi (Morocco) Professor Syed Vahiduddin (India) Professor Juan Vernet (Spain) Professor ١٧. Montgomery Watt (United Kingdom) BOARD OF EXPERTS Chairman: Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani Professor Iraj Afshar (Iran) Professor Ibrahim Chabbouh (Tunisia) Dr Anton Heinen (Germany) Professor Yusuf Ibish (United States of America) Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu (Turkey) Dr Jan Just Witkam (The Netherlands) SECRETARY-GENERAL Dr Hadi Sharifi

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Cataloguing

Conference

The Foundation has contiflued to bring more uncatalogued collections into its cataloguing project and to place its main emphasis on areas where Islamic MSS are endangered and the resources to take remedial steps are lacking. ©ur first target this year was Albania. The two main collections of Islamic MSS are those of the National Archives and the National Library of Albania. Al-Furqan has arranged for the cataloguing of the collection of the National Library and we hope that this will be completed before the end of the current year. The National Archives will follow, and then we will look at other, smaller collections. The cataloguing project sponsored by the Foundation at the Academy of Sciences, Kazan, Tatarstan, is continuing slowly. A detailed catalogue of the whole collection of Islamic MSS (approximately 5,000 MSS) should be ready within the next four years. We expect to receive the material for the first volume of this series before the end of this year. The Foundation is currently negotiating with the Institute of Manuscripts, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences for permission to catalogue its library of approximately 00 ‫ل‬4 ‫ م‬MSS. The intention is to prepare a catalogue of selected MSS. Work should start in 1997. In Bulgaria, Stoyanka Kenderova, (editor of the Catalogue o f Arabic manuscripts in the ss Cyril and ‫ ةال'اكههءت س‬National Library, Sofia: Hadltb Sciences, published by the Foundation in 1995) is now cataloguing the collection of Islamic MSS in Shumen. The project should be completed by the end of this year. In Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria and Senegal handlisting is vigorously progressing. The Foundation is, in fact, already ‫ هإ‬possession of some handlists of Islamic MSS in Nigeria, Mauritania and Mali. These are now being prepared for publication. In Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast we have not yet found suitable cataloguers. We have reason to hope, however, that we will shortly be able to start a project in Cameroon. The Foundation has recently published Volume III of Fibris MakhtütâtMaktabat al-Masjid ‫رع‬Acjşâ: al-juz’ al-tbalitb. The Foundation has offered to publish a catalogue, in Bosnian, of Islamic MSS of the Ghazi Husrev-Bey Library in Sarajevo. Al-Furq^ is seeking contacts at relevant institutes and with cataloguers in Romania and Greece to initiate cataloguing projects in those countries.

TH E C O N S E R V A T IO N A ND PR E SE R V A T IO N O F ISLA M IC M A N U SC R IPT S 1 8 -1 9 N ovem ber 1995

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‫ © آ‬prescribe appropriate remedies, it is necessary first to describe accurately the existing problems. This conference constituted a decisive step along the path that leads from description to prescription, from addressing the problems of Islamic MSS in the world today in abstract terms, to redressing the situation in concrete terms. Previous conferences and projects sponsored by Al-Fur^n have concentrated on the first stage: that of accurate assessment of the existing collections of MSS. This conference, conceived in the first instance by George Atiyeh, and chaired by Yusuf Ibish, was characterised by the wide range of practical solutions proferred, both traditional and modern, to the urgent problems of conserving, preserving and restoring the written treasures of the cultural patrimony of Islam. Pooling the accumulated experience and expertise of conservators, librarians^ administrators and technicians from the Arab World, Europe, India, Iran and the USA, the conference was a living demonstration of the invaliiahl«». benefits that can be derived from international co-operation. Two principal themes emerged during the proceedings: the need to preserve intact the MSS in their actual form, and the possibility of making available the data of the MSS through the use of microfilm and CDRom, taking advantage of the most advanced techn^ues of scanning and photography. These two endeavours were shown to be complementary: once the data of a given MS can be studied by scholars and students in the more durable and accessible mode of computerised images, the actual MS itself can be — as it were — ‘retired’ from active service, and held as a historical document and a work of art in its own right. The aesthetic, historical and cultural value embodied in the MS is thus served by technology; and the intellectual value enshrined in the texts can be brought to light without damaging the manuscript as an object. To quote from the keynote address by Yusuf Ibish: ‘Although high-quality microfilming and laser disk storage projects represent the single most significant advance in preservation efforts, they should be carried out in concert with material conservation, not at its expense.’ Just as there was a harmonious synthesis between ultra-modern technique and timehonoured tradition, so there was a fruitful

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exchange between experts dealing with the Islamic and the non-Islamic world. The contribution of Fred Mintzer, head of the IBM-implemented project to computerise the Vatican MS Collection, making it accessible as a digital library service, was much appreciated. Among other things, he offered valuable advice on how to scan documents in a way that neutralises the damaging effect of the intense heat generated by the high-power halogen lamps needed for the scanning. Amparo de Totres, a preservation specialist in the Library o f Congress, shared with the delegates the lessons learned through her experience as a key co-ordinator of APOYO — the Association for the Conservation of the Cultural Patrimony of the Americas. Now a thriving organisation boasting a membership of some 2,500 conservators, APOYO has brought together the formerly disparate, often isolated, individuals working in the field, thereby forming a unified, mutually supportive and informative international network. APOYO produces a bi-annual newsletter which is primarily concerned with ‘preventive conservation’ that is, non-interventive activities — such as environmental monitoring, pest control, container enhancement — designed to prevent or limit damage to MSS. This theme of preventive conservation was taken up by others, such as Ann Seibert, senior paper conservator, also at the Library of Congress. She went even further, however, by arguing for ‘de-restoration’: the need to put right the damage caused by flawed synthetic methods of modem ‘restoration’. This view was echoed both by Werner Schwartz, in his paper advocating the establishment of an International Database for Islamic MSS, and by Ursula Dreibholz in her paper on the Qur'an manuscripts discovered in the Great Mosque at Sana’a. Her thirty years of experience in conservation had taught her, she said, to use natural materials wherever possible, given the fact that we know so little about the long-term effects of modem methods of restoration. She argued for minimal interference with the original substance of the MSS. Mohamed Bencherifa, former head of the Bibliotheque Generale in Rabat, pointed to a particular modem technique that has clearly been harmful to MSS over time: the use of transparent plastic paper to cover MS pages. Dovetailing with this view of the counter productive effects of certain modern conservation practices was the stress placed by other contributors upon traditional techniques: Mahdi 'Atiql, Director of 'Atiqi Traditional Bookbinders and Illuminators in Tehran, emphasised that, in

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the search for the best form of agglutinins for the repair and restoration of paper, natural starches and gums from plants have proved to be far superior to modem synthetic substances. Similarly, Murâd al-Rammah, Head of the National Laboratory for Conservation and Preservation of Heritage in Kairouan, noted the effectiveness of egg-white when used as an adhesive to render permanent the gilded Kufi،; script of the Qur'ans inscribed on blue parchment — the Qur^ns that are regarded as the ‘glory’ of the Kairouan collection. Mahmoud Hega^i, Chairman of the National Library of Egypt, described the current preservation plans of the National Library. He outlined the priorities of this plan, in which preservation of the MSS of the Qur'an is uppermost. He referred to the Library’s tripartite reformatting programme consisting of microfilming, digitalised imaging and making data available on CD; and reported on the involvement of the National Library in various fields of international co-operation. Abid Reza Bedar, former Director of the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library in Patna, India, in addition to detailing the preservation techniques and programmes at the Library, drew attention to two additional threats to its MS collections: the humidity caused by the fast-flowing Ganges just 200 metres away; and more ominously, the danger posed to the Library by the rising tide of bookburning fanaticism in India. Tony Bish, head of conservation at the Wellcome Institute in London, presented a paper on the project to conserve the private MS collection of the Khalidi family, one of the oldest and most prominent families of ]erusalem. All 1,200 MSS have now been placed in protective boxes and stored on metal shelves. He reported, however, that it will still be some years before the library can be open to researchers. Raik Ja‫؟‬jis, Director of the Scanning Proton Microprobe Unit at Oxford University, delivered a paper which generated considerable interest. He outlined the potential of ion-beam technology for developing a more precise scientific basis for material conservation of MSS. In essence, the technique involves focusing a beam of sub-atomic particles on a tiny area of a MS, generating thereby an emission of radiation that reveals microscopic details of the paper and pigment, or ink. One of the great advantages of this technique is the absence of any chemical treatment of the MSS. He claimed that the findings of the new ionbeam method represent an intellectual challenge to conventional conceptions of conservation, and a great potential for furthering scientific knowledge both of MS material and the

A L - F U R Q A N I S L A M I C H £ R I T A G £ F O U N D A T I O N N E W S L £ T T £ R t!

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microscopic effects of conservation practices upon that material. Papers, papyri and parchments all came under scrutiny in the paper given by Nasry Iskander, Director of Conservation at the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Cairo. He dealt with the range of environmental conditions to which these materials are subjected and suggested methods of conservation and preservation ranging from the simple — involving no chemicals, and easy to implement by the non-specialist resident curator — to the complex — requiring specialists to assess, for example, air pressures and light wave-lengths. Two conservators from the British Library, David Jacobs and Barbara Rodgers, drew attention to the damage don،‫ ؛‬to Islamic MSS by western re-binding, and emphasised the need to respect the material integrity and original format of the MSS. They gave a detailed account of the restorative materials, repair methods and care and storage techniques that have been deemed the most effective and appropriate at the British Library. Ibrahim Chabbouh, one of the most eminent authorities in the field of conservation and preservation, made a highly pertinent call for research into a comprehensive dictionary of traditional Arabic terms used in the production of MSS. If brought to fruition such an enterprise would greatly augment intellectual and scientific awareness of the arts and skills that went into the production of Islamic MSS. All the papers can be read in full in the Proceedings of the Conference which Al-Furqan will publish (in English and Arabic) later this year. Mention must also be made of the exhibitors whose displays gave concrete expression to many of the themes and techniques discussed in the conference: Conservation by Design UK Ltd; Falkiner Fine Papers Ltd; Griffin Mill; J.Hewit and Sons Ltd; IBM; Inter Documentation Company; P e rk a m e n t; Preservation Equipment Ltd. Finally, the delegates passed a unanimous vote to approve the establishment of an Association for the Preservation of Islamic cultural Material (APIM), under the auspices of A]-Fur،^n Foundation, open to all individuals and institutions concerned with preserving and restoring the cultural heritage of the Islamic tradition. It is hoped that through this Association further concrete steps will be taken in the cause of the cultural heritage of Islam, so that the hidden and endangered repository of so much of the accumulated wisdom, knowledge, literature and art of the Islamic tradition can be preserved and brought to light.

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Encycl©paedla of Makkah& Madman An independent off-shoot of Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation has been established in Jeddah. This new body has the brief to prepare an Encyclopaedia o f the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and to publish works related to these cities. The Institute has started to collect materials relating to the two cities. ١٥ particular much relevant material from the ©ttoman Archives in Turkey, from Egyptian libraries and libraT'ies in the Maghreb countries and India has been collected. The director of the Turkish Islamic Encyclopaedia and the director of the Great Encyclopaedia of Iran have both promised to supply the project with all relevant material and sources. The institute has acquired the technical infrastructure needed to achieve its aims, and has established a library to contain everything that has ever been written about the holy cities in any language. It is also collecting all documents pertaining to the holy cities. It has already published its first book: al-Târîkh wa-al-Mu’aiTİkhün bi-Makkah, mill al-qarn althâlith al-hijrî ilâ al-qain al-thalith ‘asbar [comp, by] Muhammad al-Habib al-HIlah. Makkah alMukarramah: Mu'assasat al-Furq^n lil-Tur‫؛‬i،h alİslâmî, Far' Mu’as$a$at Makkah al-Mukarramah, 1414/1994, 518pp. Its second publication will be an accurate and detailed Arabic translation of SnouckHurgronje’s famous work, Makka, which was published, in 2 volumes, in the Hague, in 1889. The Institute is working with the University of Leiden for this purpose, and to collect and study the visual and audio material brought back by Snouck-Hurgronje from the Heja2 .

Conservation The conservation and preservation of Islamic MSS have always been among the main objectives of the Foundation. We have, so far, carried out some investigations to ascertain the most efficient and broadly accepted technology for this activity. We have also engaged in compiling lists (suggested by eminent scholars in the field) of selected titles of MSS that should take priority in any preservation programme. Several institutes in both Eastern and Western countries are already involved in preservation

AL-FURQAN ISLAMIC HERITAGE FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER

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“Al-mu'mm ‫ نا س‬almu'min” ink ©٥ Bhoj Puttar

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activities, and have built significant collections of microfilms. Others have started to transfer MS material onto CDRom. The Foundation is keen to benefit from existing work and to avoid any duplication of effort.

The A sso cia tio n /o r the Preservation Islamic Cultural M aterials

Hadith Sharif, ink on Bhoj ?Uttar

٠ /

During the final session of the Foundation's conference on the Conservation and Preservation of Islamic Manuscripts, held at Eagle House on 18-1Q November 1995, a unanimous vote was taken by the participants to approve the formation of an Association for the Preservation of Islamic cultural Material (APIM) under the auspices of Al-Furq^ Islamic Heritage Foundation. The formation of this Association was one of the stated aims of this Conference, proposed by its steering Committee: George Atiyeh, Ibrahim Chabbouh and Yusuf Ibish. Al-Furq^ sees this body as providing a vital communication service; acting as a link between conservation specialists in the East and in the West and providing a channel for the exchange of ideas on conservation theory and practice. We hope to be instrumental in making possible the incorporation of traditional methods into modern conservation practice.

Exhibition Since the Qur^n was first revealed in Arabic, the Word has been carefully preserved and the art of Arabic calligraphy held in esteem by all Muslims. Throughout 14 centuries the Arabic character has been the sphere of continuous innovation and originality. A multitude of calligraphers has been inspired by it to seek new horizons of artistic expression giving rise to a variety of forms and schools. From an early time, calligraphy became the most particular of Islamic arts, connected to all the variations of the Islamic cultural heritage. We find calligraphic inscriptions everywhere: on soft and hard materials. in MSS and on architect!]ral edifices, on wood, metals, glass, ivory, bones and leather; and we find in them a variety of styles: written, carved and engraved. All these forms embody calligraphy as the highest amongst the arts of the Faith. Across the centuries, an elite of calligraphers has appeared whose masterpieces have contributed to the immortalisation of the arts of their time. Today, this tradition is represented by the very talented Rasheed Butt. After his early beginnings in his native Pakistan, Butt’s works have been

received with a^reeiation and been awarded prestigious prizes n©t only in his own country but in many otbers. At Al-Furqan Foundation’s headquarter^ Eagle House in Wimbledon, the main reception hall is graced with a wide frieze of Kashmiri rosewood engraved by Rasheed Butt with Quranic verses in thuluth. Everyone who sees this piece comes under the spell of its clarity and harmony. Believing in the position of Arabic calligraphy as the lynch-pin of the Islamic heritage, Al-Furqan

A L - F U R Q A N ‫ عا؛ا‬، ‫ ا ا‬،

H E R I T A G E F O U N D A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R II

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Surat al-Rahman. ink on paper

.‫ج‬

‫ء‬

‫م‬

‫ظ‬

‫ء‬

‫ي‬ ‘‫ح‬

. . . .

‫ح‬

‫ه س رإإ ج | أ ب م‬

‫ ئ؛ هإأ إل ن ي ت ي د ت<ت' شاب ^ آلمحمحئالئسزأ' ال م م ؛ خ ج ف ي م‬- •,‫; م م ء ت ن'ا‬.‫■ د ء‬ ‫ائأدئ 'ل؛ثات‬,--‫ل‬ * ‫ت فب جب متميئت ق'إ م ح ءأ آل م‬

‫؛‬

٠‫محء*ءءصبمهذب ؛ ؛ 'محمدم ؛ قمت ج 'ثجةمح؛؛ي‬ I

٠‫رإثبمشتئمتم؟ثإث‬

. ‫فةتث' ع' رإ ض‬ ‫س ؛ ق م‬ W

٠ ‫ثتيئ ز ؛ ؤيئ ة‬ ‫آلماكمي‬.‫تن‬

■S M

İ ‫؛‬،

‫فبث م ح ' م حت م ح‬

staged an exhibition* of the works of Rasheed Butt. The exhibition was opened by Al-Eurqan's Chairman, Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, and attended by Mr Butt and his daughter, Saira. who executes all the detailed illuminations in her father’s work Father and daughter also conducted workshops for local school-children and students of art. These were extremely well received and students enjoyed drawing, tracing and colouring in the Butt style. The works of Rasheed Butt connect with the best of the Iranian schools of calligraphy, especially the Timurid school, ©ne also finds in them the gentleness of the Turkish calligraphers and a strong link to the early Arab heritage: from Kufic calligraphy to the works of Ibn Muqlah, Ibn al-Bawwab, and Ibn al-Taw^tdi. Rasheed Butt also mixes Chinese elements in his works, composing the perspective of his tableaux with ornamental and calligraphic components. Rasheed Butt is distinguished by his ability to invent, generate and revive, by the originality in his distribution of space and his use of natural materials, and by his graduated use of ink colours — from the pale to the shining bright. He uses Kufic calligraphy for his Qur’anic inscriptions, referring back to the Kufic calligraphers of the AL-FURQAN

Book in the first three centuries of Islam. He combines oriental writing traditions with the distinctive stamp of his own personality and the balance of his innovative energy shows in his use of the different types of calligraphy: Kufi, Naskh, '/’‫ الاالرا‬،‫ال‬. Tacliq. *The Exhibition was curated by Ms Salama Khaja

Forthcoming Events 1 1 N ovem ber 1 9 9 6

7 .0 0 pm

THE SECRETS ©E CREATIVE LOVE public lecture on the work of Muhammad Iqbal by Annemarie Schimmel The Lecture Theatre Tbe Victoria and Albert Museum Exhibition Road Entrance All Welcome

A u tu m n 1 9 9 7 THE A1-FURÇÂN CONFERENCE 5‫ ا س د ل‬of the Conference for 1997 can be obtained by writing to: Public Events, Al-L'urqan L'oundation Eagle House, High Street, Wimbledon London SW19 5EF, UK

I S L A M I C H E R I T A G E F O U N D A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R 1■

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through respect for law and order, paymen، ‫آ ه‬ taxes and participation in defence. This system was gradually destroyed by complicated internal and external developments in the ‫وا‬،‫ ظ‬and 20th centuries. Professor Ibish touched on some of the most important factors that led to the dissolution of traditional society. A dissolution which resulted in the loss of the personal link between the individual and the community and. therefore, the loss of social and religious integration. Islam no longer has a concrete social organisation. This social void is complicated by the rise of modern state — with its disproportionately large coercive powers — and the decay of any counterbalancing institutions. This is at the heart of the severe crises in the Muslim World today, calling for reconstruction of the forms of social cohesion on Islamic principles.The confusion and violence we witness in our societies are but indices of the continuing vitality of Islam. The lecture clearly struck a chord with the audience, in particular with the Chairman, who commented on the close resemblance between Professor Ibish's descriptions of 19th century Damascus and life in ^akkah in the early part of this century.

Lectures 'I'he Foundation held three public lectures during the last year: C O R P O R A T I O N S ( ) ، A R T I S A N S IN D A M A S C U S I N 'I’U E O T T O M A N

‫ ا ال‬- : ‫ت اها ي ا‬

by Yusuf Ibish Eagle House - 3 April 1996 Professor Ibish. who has held many distinguished academic posts and is now a member of the AlFurqan Board of Experts, spoke of the dual function of the biraf in integrating the individual artisan in 1. a socio-economic system under the Sbari'ah, and 2. a spiritual brotherhood of the Sün orders as the “Sacred Way” leading back to God. The symbolism of weaving, with the warf and weft threads signifying the two modes of integration, (horizontal/wordly and vertical/spiritual) is particularly relevant. The initiated artisan had to prove his worth not only by the excellence of his craftsmanship, but also by the quality of his faith: 'amal (work) and iman (faith) were tightly braided together, for the artisan was not just earning a living in this world, he was also and above all refining his soul for the next. Thus society was knit into a strong fabric to counterbalance the military might ol' the Ottoman Empire. The individual owed his loyalty primarily to Islam itself, and then to his own socio economic group, or birfab. and its ethic. Society gradually coalesced and forced the State to C O operate with the settled agricultural and industrial trade corporations. Obedience to the state was

M r SI C IN M ‫ ' ا‬S L I M C I V I L I S A T I O N

by Muhammad Salih al Mahdi Purcell Room - 2 May 1996 The well-known Tunisian jurist and composer. Dr al-Mahdt started with the songs of the trade caravans ‫■؛‬١pre-Islamic days and went on to give a richly detailed account of the development of the art (some would say the science) of music in the great cultural centres of Muslim Cairo. Baghdad and Hejaz. He cited documented historical events

Dr Muhammad Salih al Mahd] and his group perform at ،1‫ءل‬ Purcell Room

‫ ا ع‬- ‫ع و » 'ا ء‬

ISLAMIC HERITAGE

FOUNDATION

NEWSLETTER

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The C hairm an. Sheikh A hm ed Zaki Y am ani and Professor Y usuf Ibish.

After the lecture, Dr al-Mahdi gave a recital ‫؛‬،١ which he played the 'ud and sang, accompanied by ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jaziri ‫ □ ه‬qanun, 'Abd al-Naşir al-Ahmar on tabla, and by his own two grandsons, Qays and Faris Sanchou on violin and flute respectively. Dr al-Mahdi's delight in the theory and practice ©1 music transmitted itself to his audience, whose enthusiasm was shown when they spontaneously participated in the song with which he ended his performance: the Purcell room rang to four hundred voices joyfully singing in praise of the Prophet. PLURALISM AND DEMOCRACY

I N 1 s t -‫ص‬

by Muhammad I’ahmy Howeidy Eagle House - 5 Junel996

from the life ol' the Prophet (pbuh) and the lives of the Khulafa’ expressing their attitude to music. He discussed some of the leading figures (such as Tuways and Ibn Misj^،h) who contributed to the musical life of the area. He reviewed the written musical heritage since al-Kindt, al-Farabt and Ibn Sına and gave an account of the main maqamat and instruments of Muslim music. He also described the nourishing inter-action between the Arab, the Persian and the Turkish musical traditions and the role of the Suft orders in preserving the musical heritage.

The demand for places for the lecture by this wellknown thinker and writer,was such that video links had to be established outside the main auditorium. Mr Howeidy spoke of ،he natural bent ‫ آ ه‬Islam towards pluralism, and of its stress on shurâ in government. He insisted that shüra was never meant to be purely consultative but was meant to be a true basis for decision-making in government. He spoke of Islam's position on human rights — on the rights, in fact, ©f all living beings — and repeated that {slam cann©t be held resp©nsible for the practices ©f the g©vernments ©f {slamic countries. Much heated questioning and discussi©n followed Mr Howeidy's lecture and continued well into the reception which everybody attended later in the gard£ns of Eagle House.

M r M uham m ad Fahm y H ow eidy considering a question

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Library Since 1995, the library bookstock has increased from 10,000 to 11,500 volumes. Many titles of printed catalogues of Islamic manuscripts in ‫ ط ا ا ء ؛ ا ء م‬of collections in European and African countries and the Middle East have recently been acquired. The Library collection of catalogues covers 85 countries and today it has gathered 1,311 titles. In addition, 260 titles deal with codicological material (i.e. the physical aspect of the manuscript, such as illustration, material support [parchment, paper], binding, writing, implements, preservation and conservation issues, etc).

Im portan t acquisitions in 1 9 9 6 Bibliography ٠٠ manuscripts libraries in Turkey and the publications on ،‫ ءه‬manuscripts located in these libraries, prepared by Nimet Bayraktar and Mihin Lugal; ed. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu. Istanbul: IRCICA, 1995, xxxii, 336pp., 1^ plates facsim. in col. Book arts oflsfaban: diversity and identity in seventeenth century Persia, [by] Alice Taylor. Malibu, CA: j. Paul Getty Museum, 1995, xiv, 86pp., 1 map: 51 ill., 24 of which in col. Catalogue commente des pieces comportant des caracteres arabes de la collection ‫ ءك‬monnaies indiennesdeM . /. -M . Dumont, [par] Frederic Bauden. 2‫ ء‬ed., Bruxelles: Üniversite Libre de Bruxelles, Faculte de Philosophie et Lettres, 1989, 2v., xxviii, 419pp.; 10pp. of plates. Comprehensive survey regarding the condition ofthe existing collection ofthe historic manuscripts ‫ لف‬the National Archives Center [Beirut], by Anna Czajka. [Beirut], August 1995, 8pp. Empire o f the Sultans: Ottoman art from the collection o f Nasser D. Kbalili, catalogue by j. M. Rogers; devised and arranged by Julian Raby; edited by Alison Effeny. Geneva: Mus،‫؛‬e d’Art et d’Histoire; London: Nour Foundation (in association with Azimuth Editions), 1995, 285pp.: plates facsim. in col. Die Handschriften der Universitatsbibliotbek Graz, bearbeitet von Anton Kern. Leipzig: Otto Harrassowitz, 1942-1967, 3v., 432pp.; 412pp.; xxxii, 490pp. Kayseri Râşid Efendi Eski eserler Kütüphanesindeki Türkçe, Farsça, Arapça: yazmalar kataloğu: / - / / = Fihris al-makbtütât alTurkiyyab wa-al-Fârisiyyab wa-al-'Arabiyyab almahfuz bi-Maktabat Râsbid Afandî, QayşarîTurkyâ, [hazırlayan] Ali Rıza karabulut, [new ed.], Ankara: Aliç Ofset Matbaacılık San. Tic. A. ş„ 1995, 2v. in 1 (vi, 394; vi, 401-689pp. in 2 columns); (Mektebe Yayınları, 12. Katalog Serisi; 3), ISBN 975 95715 36.

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K ıbrıs hlâm yazmaları kataloğu = Fihris almakbtütât al-Islâmiyyah f î Qubrus [comp, by] Ramazan Şeşen, Mustafa Haşim Altan ve Cevad izgi; [intro. by] Ekmcİ£ddin Ihsanoğlu. İstanbul: ISAR Vakfı; IRCICA, 1995, xli, 86pp., 646pp., 1‫لل‬, plates facsim. Levinus Warner and bis legacy: three centuries Legatum Wamerianum in the Leiden University Library: catalogue o fth e commemorative exhibition held in the Bibliotbeca Tbysiana from April 27th till M ay 1970 ‫هءول‬, [by Leiden University Library]. Leiden: E. j. Brill, 1970, vii, 77pp., 18 plates, (2 in col.). Pages ofperfection: Islamic paintings ‫درءة‬ calligraphy from the Russian Academ y ٠/ Sciences, St Petersburg, by Yuri A. Petrosyan, Oleg F. Akimushkin, Anas B. Khalidov, Efim A. Rezvan ... [etal.]. Lugano: ARCH Foundation, 1995, 339pp. Fibris kutub al-qawa'id al-fiqbiyyab wa-usul al-fiqb fîM aktabat al-muşagbgharât ' " ' ' ' f î qism al-makbtütât f î 'Imâdat Shu’ün ‫ره‬Maktabât f i al-Jâmi'ab al-Islâmiyyah, [comp, by] 'Imâdat Shu’ün al-Maktabât. al-Madmah almunawwarah: 'Imâdat Shu’ün al-Maktabât (alJâmi'ah al-Islâmiyyah), 1415/1994, 423pp. Fibris kutub al-qirâ’at al-Qur’â niyyab ‫آ م‬ Maktabat al-muşagbgbamt al-fllmiyyab ‫ آ م‬qism al-makbtütât f i 'Imâdat Shu’ün al-Makta.bât fi alJâmi'ah al-Islâmiyyah, [comp, by] ‘Imâdat Shu’ün al-Maktabât. al-Mad!nah al-munawwarah: 'Imâdat Shu’ün al-Maktabât (al-Jâmi'ah al-Islâmiyyah), 1415/1994, 352pp. Fibris kutub al-slrab al-nabawiyyah wa-alşahâbab fîM aktabat al-muşagbgharât alfılm iyyab f î qism al-makbtütât f î 'Imâdat Shu’ün al-Maktabât f î al-Jâmi'ah al-Islâmiyyab, [comp. by] 'Imâdat Shu’ün al-Maktabât. al-Madinah almunawwarah: 'Imâdat Shu’ün al-Maktabât (alJâmi'ah al-Islâmiyyah), 1415/1994, 494pp. Fibris kutub al-tarâjim fîM aktabat almuşagbgharâtal-fılmiyyah fiq ism al-makbtütât f î 'Imâdat Sbu’ün al-Maktabât f î al-Jâmi'ab alIslâmiyyab, [comp, by] ‘Imâdat Shu’ün alMaktabât. al-Madinah al-munawwarah: 'Imâdat Shu’ün al-Maktabât (al-Jâmi'ah al-Islâmiyyah), 1415/1994, 464pp. Fibris kutub al-târîkb wa-al-riblât wa-aljughrâfiyâ wa-al-buldân fîM aktabat almuşagbgharât al-fîlmiyyab f î qism al-makbtütât f î 'Imâdat Shu’ün al-Maktabât f î al-Jâmi'ab alIslâmiyyah, [comp, by] 'Imâdat Shu’ün alMaktabât. al-Madinah al-munawwarah: 'Imâdat Shu’ün al-Maktabât (al-Jâmi'ah al-Islâmiyyah), 1415/1994, 356pp. al-Fibris al-mukbtaşar lil-makbtütât al'Arabiyyab wa-al-Islâmiyyah fiq ism al-makbtütât wa-muşawwarâtibâ fîD â r al-Kutub al-Wataniyyah,

AL-FURQAN ISLAMIC HERITAGE FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER

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[comp, by] Bas^m Muhammad Barud, [ed.] 'Abd al-Hamld al-Rifa'I. Abu ^ab!: al-Majma' alThaq^fi,1‫ م‬al-Kutub al-Wataniyyah, 1415/1994, 2v. (466; 545pp.). al-Fihris al-waşfl li-makhtütât al-sirah alnabawiyyah wa-muta’alliqâtuhâ [bi-al-Maktabah ^-Markaziyyah bi-Jâmi'at al-Imâm Muhammad Ibn $‫ هه ' ة‬al-Istemiyyah], [comp, by] Qasim alSâmarrâ’ı. al-Riy^: Jâmi'atal-Imâm Muhammad Ibn Sa'ud al-Islâmiyyah; Idarat al-Thaqafah waal-Nashr, 1416/1995, 3v., ISBN set: 2006 04 9960. Fihrist-i nuskbah ’ha-yi khatti-i Farsi-1 Kitâbkhânah-i Dânishgâh-i Istanbul = A catalogue ofth e Persian manuscripts ١» the library o f Istanbul University, [comp, by] Tawfiq Hashim Pür SubhânI va Hisâm al-Dîn Aqsü. Tihran: Pazhuhishgah-i '1‫ءا هل ل‬-‫ ؛‬insanı va Mutâli‘ât-i Farhangl, 1374sh/1995, 754pp., ISBN 964 426 003 1. Fihrist-i nuskhah ’hâ-yi khatti-i Kitâbkhânah-i ÂyatAllâhFâzilKhvânsârI,Khvânsâr-Irân: Kutub-i Khatti-i Âkhund Mullâ Muhammad ‘A ll Khvânsârı, [comp, by] Ja'far Husaynl Ishkavarl, [Ed. by] Muhammad Hasan Fâzilî. [Khvânsâr]: Mu’assisih-i 'İlmî va Farhangî-i Âyat Allah Fâ£‫؛‬l • KhvânsârT; Intishârât-i Anşâriyân, 1374sh/1416/1996, 2v. (29^, [122]pp. of plates facsim.; 371pp.; [68]pp. of plates facsim). Mahbüb al-albâb ‫ آ م‬ta'rîf al-kutub wa-al-kitâb: avvalin fihrist-i tawdihi-i kutubkhânah-i Khudâ Bakhsh, [by] Khudâ Bakhsh Khân. Pa^ah: Khudâ Bakhsh Uriyantal Pablik Lâ’Ibrîrl, 1412/1991. (1st ed.: 1316/1898); 63, 861pp. Markaz al-Wathâ’iq wa-al-Makhtütât, alJâmi'ah al-Urduniyyah, [comp, by] Markaz alWathâ’iq wa-al-Makhtütât, al-Jâmi'ah al-Urduniyyah (Amman, Jordan). 'Amman: Matba'at al-Jâmi‘ah al-Urduniyyah, 1983?, 32pp. al-Muharrar al-wajlz f i tafslr al-Kitâb al-'azız, [by] 'Abd al-Haqq ibn Ghâlib (Abü Muhammad) ibn ‘Atiyyah, (d. 546/1151), [ed. by] 'Abd alSalâm ‘Abd al-Shâfı Muhammad. Bayrüt: Dâr alKutub al-'Ilmiyyah, 1413/1993, 5v. Naqqâshi-ipusht-i shishah = Eglomise: painting on ‫ ءهأ‬back o f glass, [by] Hâdı Sayf, English translation by Mahdı Afshâr. Tihran: Surüsh, 1317sh/1992, 266, [12]pp. English: ill. in col. Rahnamâ-yi‫ووولء‬،‫ آااةآ‬va kitâb ârâyı dar Iran = A guide ‫ هء‬Persian painting and book arts, [by] Mujarrad Ardashir Tâkistânı. Qumm: Âstânah-i Muqaddasah-i Hazrat-i Ma'şümah, 1372sh/1993, 121pp. Tahqiq al-makhtütât bayn al-wâqi' wa-al-nabj al-amthâl, [by] 'Abd Allâh ibn 'Abd al-Rahlm 'Usaylân. al-Riyad: Maktabat al-Malik Fahad alWataniyyah, 1415/1994, 343pp.

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The Database ‫؛‬٥ the beginning o f ‫ل‬996 ‫ ا‬the Library tested the speed and flexibility of a re-written programme for the database installed on two PowerMac computers. The above programme will allow the Library to refine the input and ou^ut of the bibliographic data as well as enhance and speed up search-data operations. More importantly, it will assist the Library in the publication of its Acquisition list due at the beginning of 1997 covering accession nos. 1-10,0000 (i.e. 6,148 titles).

Library services Any scholar or student interested in working on Islamic manuscripts will find the Library resources very valuable and rich in printed Islamic primary sources. In the absence of a library terminal, the Librarian will be happy to assist the readers in their bibliographic search on the Library computers. Readers also have direct access to the hard copy of the Acquisition lists which are periodically updated. Any questions about Library membership, acquisitions or the Library services should be referred to Dr Aliya Haji, Librarian, during opening hours, Monday-Friday, 10.00am to 5.00pm.

In the Community The historic interest of Eagle House as the second oldest house in Wimbledon attracts a great deal of interest from both the local community, and bodies with an interest in art from all over the UK. Al-Furqân has, therefore, repeatedly opened Eagle House to local societies, schools and other organisations who have asked to see it. The staff have undertaken guided tours of the house, demonstrating its architectural features and the sympathetic refurbishment it has undergone. They have answered questions concerning the Islamic artefacts in the house and have explained the work of the Foundation.

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Publications Pl'BLISHED SINCE N EW SLETTER

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‫ميقناانةبم؛تيي'إلاتي‬

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Fibris M akbtutat M aktabat al-M asjid al-Aqşâ: alj u z ’ al-tbalitb, compiled by Khidr Ibrahim

Salamah (1996), 252pp. 1 873992 17 3

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A h m a d ibn 'A ll ibn 'A bd al-Qadir Taqi al-D m A b u al-'A bbas a l-M a q rizi's “M usaw w adat Kitab al-M aw a'iz wa-al-I'tibar f i D hikr al-Kbitat wa-alAtbar", edited by Ayman Fu’ad Sayyid (1995),

664pp. 1 873992 16 5

THE CODICOLOGY OF ISLAMIC MANUSCRircS

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Fibris M akbtutat M arkaz A h m a d Baba ‫{ ا ر‬W atba’iq wa-al-Bubütb al-Tarikbiyyab biTunbuktü, vol. I [Islamic Manuscripts Handlists

The C odicology o fls la m ic M anuscripts: Proceedings o f the Second Conference o f A lFurqan Islam ic Heritage Foundation , edited by

Series ٧ : African Collections — Mali], compiled by Sidi Amar ©uld Ely, and edited by Julian Johansen (vol. I in a six-volume set) (1995). 592pp, 1873992 14 9

Yasin Dutton (1995), 160pp, I 873992 15 7

AL-FURQAN

ISLAMIC HERITAGt

JUNDATION

NEWSLETTER

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Les mathematiqucs infintesimales ‫ الك‬IXe au X le siecle, by Roshdi Rashed. Vol. I: Fondateurs et commentateurs: Ban ‫ ة‬Müsâ, Ibn Qurra, Ibn S in ^ , al-Khazin, al-Qühî, Ibn al-Samh, Ibn Hüd: (1996), 1125pp; 1 18 873992 ‫ ;ل‬vol. II: Ibn al-Haytham [Travaux en mathematiques infinitesimales]: (1993), 597pp; 1 873992 07 6; vol. Ill: Ibn al-Haytham [£tudes sur les coniques et sur leurs applications], publication date 1998. FORTHCOMING

Catalogue oflslam ic Manuscripts in Shumen, Bulgaria, compiled by Stoyanka Kenderova. The Conservation and Preservation oflslam ic Manuscripts: Proceedings o f the Third Conference o f Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation, edited by Yusuf Ibish, co-edited by George Atiyeh. Fihris Makhtütât Markaz Ahmad Bâbâ 1İ1Watha’iq wa-al-Buhuth al-Târlkhiyyab ‫ آ ه‬Tunbuktu, vol. II [Islamic Manuscripts Handlists Series: African Collections — Mali], compiled by Sidi Amar Ould Ely, and edited by Abd alMohsin al-Abbas. Fihris Makhtütât Markaz Ahmad Bâbâ 1İ1Wathâ'iq wa-al-Buhüth al-Târlkhiyyah biTunbuktü, vol. Ill [Islamic Manuscripts Handlists Series: African Collections — Mali], compiled by Sidi Amar Ould Ely, and edited by Abd alMohsin al-Abbas. Fihris Maktabat Shinqlt wa-Wâdân, vol. I [Islamic Manuscripts Handlist Series 6: African Collections — Mauritania] compiled by Ahmad Ould Mohammed Yahya, and edited by Ulrich Rebstock (vol. I in a three volume set). F lH ifz al-Asnân wa-Istişlâhihâ ofHunayn Ibn Ishaq, edited by Mohammed Fouad Zakri. Hifz wa-Şiyânat al-Makhtütât al-Islâmiyyah: A 'mâl a1-Mu’tamar al-Thâlith li-M u’‫'ءةةه‬،‫ ؛هة‬alFurqân lil-Turâth al-Islâm I, edited by Ibrahim Chabbouh 'Ilm al-Kitâb al-Makhtüt: A 'mâl a1-Mu ,tamar al-Thânlli-Mu'assasat al-Furqân lil-Turâth alİslâmî, edited by Muhammad Rasheed el-Enani. Kitâb al-Imâmah wa-al-SIyâsah, edited by Sa'id Salih Khalil. MakhtütâtDâral-Wathâ’iq al-Qawmiyyah alNljlriyyah bi-Kâdünâ, vol. II, [Islamic Manuscripts Handlists Series: African Collections — Nigeria], compiled by Baba Yunus Muhammad, and edited by John Hunwick. Al-Makhtütâtal-Islâmiyyah fial-'Âlam , vol. I, Ethiopia— Brazil, ed. & trans, by 'Abd al-Sattar al-Halwaji. There will be 5/6 volumes in this set which is a translation of the World Survey ٠/ Islamic Manuscripts, ed. Geoffrey j. Roper, ISBN 1 873992 04 1, London: Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation, 4 vols., 1992-1994.

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Maktabât Serigne M orM baye Cisse, al-Hâjj Malick Sy wa-al-Hâjj İbrahim Niasse [Islamic Manuscripts Handlists Series: African Collections — Senegal], compiled by Ousmane Kane.

Graduates In 1994 and 1995 The Foundation held 3 post graduate courses on the cataloguing of Islamic MSS. These courses were held in Cairo, Istanbul and London, and were attended by approximately 60 specialists in the field. The Foundation is pleased to present a selection of news of the contributions of its graduates to Islamic MSS Studies. AZERBAIJAN

The Foundation is negotiating with the authorities at the Institute of Manuscripts, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, Baku to arrange the cataloguing of their collection. MEHMEDALI BABASCH©V would form part of the cataloguing team. The Institute's Library holds approximately 14,000 MSS, a good number of which are unique. Worthy of mention are the autograph MSS of 'Maqsad al-Tâlib waMuntahâ al-Matâlib by 'Abd a]-Ra^im b. Muhammad al-Sharif; Sayr al-Kawakib bi-alRaşd wa-al-Imtihân by I;Iasan b. Muhammad alQadI and Ikhbâr al- 'Ulama‘ bi-Akhbâr al-Hukamâ’by Jamâl al-Dın al-Qiftl. Among the oldest manuscripts held at the Institute are Ibn Sınâ's Al-Qâaüa f l al-Tibb, copied in 538 AH and al-Jawhari's Qâmüs al-Şihâh, dated 510 AH. CROATIA

Because of the war, MSS at the Archive of Islamic Manuscripts, Zagreb, have been placed in secure storage. The instructions to return the MSS to the Archive have been given, and officials at the Archive, one of whom is TATJANA PAIÇ VUKIÇ, are now waiting for üıem. They have recently acquired a computer system and are looking forward to computerising their card catalogue. GERMANY

KAMRAN ARJOMAND will soon start working on cataloguing some 650 Islamic MSS held at the Oriental Department of the University of Cologne. JORDAN

ISM A ' IL 'AM I RAH and others at the Royal Society for Research in Islamic Civilisation (Â1 al-Bayt Foundation), Amman, have completed work on a catalogue of biographies and panegyrics (sirah and mada’ih) of the Prophet; it is now ready to go to press. The catalogue lists library holdings worldwide of MSS dealing with

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the Prophet’s biography as well as verse composed in his praise. It is anticipated that it will be published in two parts with indices of authors and primary sources and a bibliography. NIGERIA

I. A. OGUNBIYI who is teaching and conducting research at the University of Ibadan, continues to catalogue the Arabic and Islamic MSS held at the University of Ibadan. He has alerted the Foundation to the fast deteriorating condition of a rare Nigerian Arabic MS on indigenous wildlife, held at the Centre for Arabic Documentation, that needs immediate restoration. It is by Muhammad Ghawr^b. al-Amir ‘Umar b. al-Kha]!l b. 'Abd All§h b. Födı, and is entitled Ta'lim al-Radl min al-Ikhwan. The only other known copy of this MS is at the Kaduna National Archives. PAKISTAN MUHAMMA□ SHAH BOKHARI has published a short catalogue of Hadilh MSS in the National Museum of Pakistan PALESTINE

The Library of Shaykh Muhammad al-Khal!l! was attached to the Library of A l-A q^ Mosque in the early Eighties. The Librarian, KHIDR IBRAHIM SALAMAH has already started to catalogue its holdings with the intention of offering his catalogue to the Foundation for publication. The collection is estimated at 600 MSS, collected some 250 years ago, and is thought to include some rare works, six of which, were written by al-Khalili himself. The condition of the MSS is critical, none of them has been spared the attentions of termites. Help to restore and preserve the collection is badly needed. RUSSIA

SERGEI TURKIN from the Institute of Oriental Studies at St Petersburg is finalising two pieces of work: one entitled “Compositions attributed to Abü Ma'shar al-Balkhî” and the other “Another copy of Ahkam-i Qiranat by îrânshâh b. 'All alN!shâpür!”. Both are based on MSS in the collection of the Institute. SUDAN

IKHLAS MEKAWIMOHAME□ ALI, Head, Manuscripts' Section writes: Officials at the National Records Office, Khartoum, have discovered a collection of MSS in the town of M ^ im ü , Sennar Province, south of Khartoum, on the Blue Nite. The MSS belong to the Muslim Fulani tribes. They include some of the writings of Shehu Uthman dan Fodio, founder of the Kingdom of Sokoto in Nigeria. The National Records Office has also acquired some MSS belonging to Al-Sam^iyyah Süfi Order in East Sudan. The subjects of these MSS

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are mainly pi"ayer and remembrance (dhikr). However, the collection also contains documents and correspondence between the shaykhs of the order and their followers during various historical periods. The NRO has acquired some MSS on tasawwufia the Al-Qa<^if province in eastern Sudan. It should be noted that this province is rich in MSS. As far as preservation is concerned, the NRO has ^‫ ه‬، ، ‫ ه س ء‬the following steps: 1. T e microfilming of 140 MSS of the collection ofthe Sultan of Mâyirnü. 2. The restoration and preservation of some of the MSS of the Mahdist period (1881-1891). 3. The elementry handlisting of the collections of MSS held at the NRO. These will be submitted to the Foundation with a request for assistance in continuing the project. TURKEY

Kandilli Rasathanesi Kütüphanesi houses a collection of MSS in astronomy and astrology. As such, it is unique in T u r k e y . ‫ ا‬، includes some MSS on physiognomy in TaqI al-Din al-Râşid’s hand. It also includes some works by ‘All al-Qüshji and Qadi z ‫؛‬ideh al-Rumi. The cataloguing of this collection has started as part of the UNESCO ‘Memory of the World’ project. The data resulting from two years of work has now been stored in English on CDRom. The printed catalogue (in English and Turkish) is under print. It includes 1,339 MSS in Turkish, Arabic and Persian in the fields of astronomy, astrology, mathematics and geography. Requests for copies may be addressed to HATİCE AYNUR on fax: 212 265 7131■ MUALLA MURAT has translated the 16th Century Ma’denul M aarif by Seyyid Nizâmoğlu from Ottoman Turkish into Modern Turkish. She is also working on a study of the life and works of Hilâli Cagatay. UNITED KINGDOM

□ELIA CORTESE has contributed to the preparation of a catalogue of 38 items entitled “The Qur’an and Calligraphy” for Bernard Quaritch Ltd. She has also been teaching Islamic Studies at Middlesex University. UZBEKISTAN

EKREM HABIULLAH TAHIROĞLU has started editing Al-Zuhür al-Muqtatafah min Tarlkb Makkah al-Musharrafab, by al-FasI (d. 831 AH) from a MS in the Beruni Oriental Institute, Tashkent. He has also published selected translations from Ibn Taghri BardT's (1409-1469) al-Nujüm al-Zâhirah and the chapter dealing with the meeting between Ibn Khaldün and Am îr

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Taymür from Ibn Khaldün's history. He has also given a number of lectures on codicology in the Department of Arabic and Turkish at the Oriental Institute.

Guests During the last year, Al-Furq^ Foundation had the honour of welcoming ‫ ءراال؛له‬distinguished vistors to Eagle House. Among them were: Oleg Akimushkin, Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg Qadi Ismâ'll al-’Akwa', former head of the Department of Antiquities and Manuscripts, Sana'a. Mohamed Bencherifa, former Director of the Bibliotheque Generale, Rabat Ahmed Chouqui Binebine, Director, The Royal Library, Rabat 'Abd al-'Az!z al-Dürı, University of Jordan, Amman Ahmad Farrag, consultant to the Prime Minister of Egypt on Cultural Affairs The Member of Parliament for Wimbledon, Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes

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Honours Al-Furqan Foundation extends its warmest congratulations to members of its International Advisory Council: Professor Nasir al-Din al-Asad for the “Sultan Bin 'All al-'Uways Cultural Prize” in Arabic Literary Studies and Criticism. Professor Ekmeleddin ihsanoğlu for the bestowal on him of an “Honorary Doctorate of Science” from Dowling College, USA. Shaykh l^amad al-Jasir for the “King Faisal International Prize for Arabic Literature” — awarded in recognition of his excellent analytical studies and reviews of more than thirty works by early Arab travellers and pilgrims. These are best exemplified by his 3-volume study of Al-Durar al-Fam’id by 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jazirl (16th Century) and his study of Kitâb al-Manasik, attributed to al-Harbi in the 8th Century. Professor Annemarie Schimmel for the “Peace Prize of the Association of German Booksellers”, and Egypt's “Distinction of the F ir st Order for Arts and Sciences”.

Sir John and Lady Hartopp, The Wimbledon Society The distinguished Egypian thinker and writer Muhammad Fahmy Howeidy Ghassan al-Lahham, Director-General of the Al-Asad National Library in Syria Jum'a al-Majid, Chairman of the Jum'a alMajid Centre for Culture and Heritage, Dubai Sayyid Mahmüd Mar'ashI, Director of the Mar'ashî Library, Qum Nasrullah Pourjavady, Director, Iran University Press, Tehran Khidr Salamah, Director, Al-Aqşâ Mosque Library, Jerusalem The eminent German scholar Annemarie Schimmel The Mayor of Merton (1995-6), Councillor Bridget Smith Fuad Ubayd, Director-General of the National Archives in Lebanon This is besides the distinguished scholars who serve on the Foundation's International Advisory Council and B6ard of Experts and those who participated in Al-Furq^'s Conference.

AL-FURQAN ISLAMIC H£RITAGE FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER I

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Notice Board This section presents a summary of worldwide activity in the field of Islamic MSS. We hope it will function as an information meeting-point, through which researchers working in the same field can learn of each other’s activities, both on the individual and institutional levels. We look forward to hearing from readers what they think of this section. ¥our views will help us develop it to meet your needs.

a small holding of 49 Islamic MSS (27 Arabic, 10 Persian and 12 Turkish) collected during ‫اولءظا‬1‫ت‬ century. The oldest MS is a m id -5 ‫ل‬th century book of Persian poetry. Most of the MSS are beautifully decorated and illuminated, and their fine oriental bindings have been well preserved. The Arabic manuscripts have been briefly described by Dimitri Jermakoff and the results have been published in Studia Orienta.Ua, vol 67, 1991, pp. 37-49. Mare Rand, Head, M ss & Rare Books Department IRAN

CANADA

Islamic Studies Library, McGill University Adam Gacek, Head Librarian, has published a Glossary ‫ه‬/ ،‫ ءظ‬Arabic Manuscript Book (Leiden: Ter Lugt Press). The Glossary consists of 1373 technical terms and expressions arranged alphabetically under 555 entries (root-words) given in the Arabic script. This is the first attempt to bring some of this rich palaeographical, codicological and bookmaking terminology together. Most terms in the Glossary are traced to a source, whether contemporary or earlier. DUBAI

Jum’a al-Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage Since it became fully operational two years ago, the Restoration and Conservation department in the Centre has fully restored over 700 MSS. The Department is now able to undertake all preservation, and restoration work, as well as manufacturing various traditional papers. Bassam Dagbistani EGY?T

The Regional Information Technology and Software Engineering Center (R1TSEC) Established in 1992, RITSEC is ajoint project between the United Nations Development Program and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and is hosted by the Government of Egypt— the Cabinet Information and Decision Support Centre. Recently, RITSEC has published “Treasures of Islamic Civilization” on CDRom, in co-operation with Princeton University. The CDRom shows 75 of the most valued Islamic MSS held by the University Library. It has also published the “Sana’a Manuscripts” in co-operation with the Yemenite Antiquities and Manuscripts Organisation and within the framework of the ‘Memory of the World’ programme sponsored by the UNESCO. ESTONIA

Tartu University Library, Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books Tartu University Library, founded at the time of the reopening of Tartu University in 1802, has

Kitâbkhânah-i Mar'ashı Najafı, Khiyâbân-i Iram, Qum This important library, founded in 1345Sh/1966, contains over 27,500 MSS (mostly in Arabic), making it one of the largest and most significant collections in Iran. The collection possesses many autograph MSS, some of which date back to the 3rd Century AH. Among the most important are a Qur’an manuscript written by ‘All b. Hilâl known as Ibn al-Bawwâb, 392 AH, I'râb al-Qur’an, by Farrâ’ alNahwi, 446 AH and a Qur’ân in Moroccan script written on parchment, 4th century AH. The collection has been described in the published catalogues of the Library. Cataloguing is ongoing in the Library, So far 25 volumes in Persian describing 12,500 Arabic, Persian and Turkish MSS have been completed, as well as 6 volumes in Arabic containing descriptions of 2,500 Arabic MSS. Serious attempts are being made to microfilm the whole collection. The Library has a department for the preservation and conservation of the MSS using traditional methods. Training courses are organised by the library for the cataloguing and preservation of MSS. A new library building is under construction to house 3,000,000 books.The MSS section will have modern equipment and facilities. The Library and the collection of Islamic MSS are an endowment and as such are open to all members of the public. Sayyid Mabmüd Mar‘asbl, Director IRELAND

The Chester Beatty Library Anna Contadini has been appointed Curator of the Islamic Collections. JORDAN

Centre for Documentation and Manuscripts, University of Jordan The Centre is currently reformatting its collection of original MSS on microfilms to facilitate access by researchers. New editions of important MSS are being

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prepared: Khitat al-Qabirab al-Mu‘izziyyab by Ibn 'Abd al-Zahir is being edited by Nüfan al-Hamud and Sa'id Şâlih; Al-Filâbab al-Rümiyyab, by Wa’il 'Abd al-Rahman Mustafâ; Mu'jam Tamjim Sbuyükb al-Zubaydi, by Nüfan al-Hamüd and Salam ah al-Nu'aymân. Randah Şâlih and Sulaymân al-Qudâh are editing the first part (dealing with the Abbasid state) of AkhbâralZaman. The Centre is preparing to publish a catalogue of original MSS in its custody. It has already published a catalogue of the Â1 al-Qamhawi MSS in conjunction with Al-Najâh National University in Nablus. The Centre feels very much the need to establish a restoration and conservation laboratory for MSS and documents and is looking for donations towards that end. Nufan Raja al-Sawariyyab, Acting Director LEBANON

The American University in Beirut The University owns a collection of (predominantly Arabic) MSS. Currently under way is the transfer of the entire collection to a new section equipped with the latest technology for the control of atmosphere as part öf a project of preservation and maintenance. Asraa FatbAllah, Head, Archives and Private Collections MOROCCO

The Royal Library, Rabat It is expected that His Majesty, King Hasan, will soon authorise the entire re-organisation of the Library along modern lines. Up-to-date technology will be introduced to enable the Libr^y to perform its acad£m‫؛‬c role with increased efficiency. Abm ed Cbouqui Binebine, Director-General OMAN

Ministry of National Heritage and Culture The Ministry has undertaken a project to catalogue the collection of MSS in Dar alWathâ’iq wa-al-Makhtütât. Volume I of the catalogue, devoted to the sciences of the Arabic language was published in 1995. Volume II, to be devoted to literary MSS, is expected to be issued in the near future. 'Alı 'A bd Allâh al-Hâritbl, Director, Manuscripts and Documents SAUDI ARABIA

Al-Jâmi'ah al-Islâmiyyah, Madlnah The Librai"y of the Islamic University houses an important collection of Islamic MSS and microfilms. The library has launched a project to catalogue its entire holding. So far, five detailed catalogues have been published: Fibris Kutub al-Qira’at al-Qur’a niyyab, Fibris

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Kutub al-Slrab al-Nabawiyyah wa-al-Şabâbah, Fihris Kutub aI-Qawâ‘id al-Fiqbiyyab wa-Uşül alFiqb, Fibris Kutub al-Tarajim, Fihris Kutub alTarlkh wa-al-Rahalat wa-al-Jughrafiya wa-al-Buldan. Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Türkistan 1 , Dean ofLibraries Maktabat al-Malik 'Abd al-'Azîz al-'Âmmah, Riyadh The MS section was e$tablished ‫ ى‬the King 'Abd al-'AzIz Public Library in 1408/1988. Its holdings have so far reached more than 2,370 original MSS. It also has 250 MSS on microfilm and 135 in photographic form. To date, 1,620 MSS, 168 microfilms and 42 photographic copies have been catalogued. Two catalogues have been published. One of the oldest original MS in the Library is Al-HâdI f l "Ilm al-Kalam by Abü Hafş 'Umar b. Muhammad b. 'Umar al-'Uqayli (d. 586 AH). The manuscript was copied in 728 AH. Of the most outstanding MSS in the Library's collection is a 30 folio richly-decorated and illuminated Qur’an in Naskhi script, with each two facing pages comprising a complete chapter. It is dated 1240 AH. Faysal ibn 'Abd al-Rahman Mu'ammar, Director-General M‫؛‬iktabat al-Malik Fahd al-Wataniyyah, Riyadh The King Fahd National Library was established eight years ago and a department for MSS was founded whose first acquisition was the collection of Ibrahim b .'1’‫ و ة‬. A precious item of this collection is Volume II of Sbarh Mukbtaşar al-Kbarqi by al-Zarkashî, which goes back to 879 AH. After this collection came those of Muhammad b. 'Alı Â1 al-Shaykh and 'Abd Allah b. Naşir alWahibi. Of particular importance in the latter collection is the MS of Zâd al-Ma'ad by Ibn alQayyim in the hand of the grandson of Muhammad b. 'Abd al-Wahl^b, written in 1220 AH. This collection contains epistles, fatwas (religious edicts) and books of Wahhabi preachers in Nejd, some of which are written in the hands of their authors. The collection also includes some of the writings of Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim and Ibn Rajab al-Hanball, most of which are copied by local scribes. MSS from Al-Riyad Library have recently been transferred to the National Library. These MSS, originals and copies, date from the 6th to the 14th century AH, and include 62 endowments from princes and princesses of Âl-Sa'üd. In agreement with Frinceton University, the Library has acquired 12,000 Arabic MSS on microfilm, from different periods of Arab history.

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as well as some particular to Saudi Arabian history. 350 original MSS held by the Ministry of Education have also been transferred to this Library, the oldest of which is Ma'alim al-Suaan, by Abü Sulayman Ahmad b. Muhammad Ibrahim. The collection includes some parts of Şahıh alBukh^■!, dating back to the 8th century AH. The National Library holdings come to 2,942 original MSS and about 14,000 MSS on microfilm, 1,328 on microfiche and finally 367 MSS in photocopy. As regards preservation: MSS are kept in suitable atmospheric conditions and sterilised MSS are alloted a separate room. Restoration of MSS is carried out in co-operation with the King Faysal Centre for Islamic Research and Studies in Riyadh. The Library is planning to publish a descriptive catalogue of all its original MSS. Another catalogue will describe the MSS on microfilm and microfiche. ‘A ll ibn Sulayman al-Swayni', Director-General

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All MSS are subjeeted to periodic sterilisation. A programme of restoration deals with 100 MSS every year. Ghassân al-Lahham, DirectorGeneral UNITED KINGDOM

Dr Muhammad Ibrahim Shaikh, Manchester Dr Shaikh, a member of the British Medical Association and Fellow of the Manchester Medical Society, is doing research on the history of cat gut in medicine. The first recorded historical account of this is to be found in Abü alQasim Khalaf b. 'Abb^s al-Zahrawi's (d. 404/1013) MS al-Taşrlfli-Man 'Ajiza 'an alTa’llf: al-Jirahah wa-Âlâtuhâ. The Ethicon Company, Edinburgh has prepared a video about surgical suturs including cat gut, and has acknowledged ZahrawT's contribution. Dr Shaikh is attempting to write a monograph on the lives and works of the great surgeons in the era of scientific progress in al-Andalus (936-1013 AD).

SPAIN

Institute de Filolog‫؛‬a, affiliated to Consejo Superior de Investigaciones C‫؛‬ent‫؛‬ficas, Madrid In a joint undertaking between Consejo Superior de Investigaciones C‫؛‬ent‫؛‬ficas and Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional, the Institute is publishing a collection of Andalusian MSS entitled Spanish Arab Sources. The aim of the project is to preserve the Andalusian heritage, and to publicise some of its special aspects, especially in the fields of historiography, lexicography, medicine, agriculture, astronomy and jurisprudence. The collection includes some MSS in the old Castilian language, which used Arabic characters. These works are considered among the last vestiges of Islamic civilisation in Spain. To-date 19 books from the collection have gone into print. Mercedes Garcia-Arenal & Manuela Marin SYRIA

Al-Asad National Library, Damascus The Library holds 19,162 original MSS making up 31,300 titles. Through exchange with Arab and foreign libraries, it acquired another 4,325 titles on microfilm and 135 volumes in photocopy comprising 160 titles. The Library has completed the cataloguing of its MS holdings and has produced the catalogue: Fihris al-makhtütât al'arabiyyah al-mahfüzah f l maktabat al-Asad alwataniyyah, of which three volumes have been published so far. The Library has computerised more than 20,000 index cards containing descriptions of its holdings of MSS. AL-FURQ^N

YEMEN

The General Authority of Antiquities, Manuscripts and Museums, Sana’a The Authority is currently implementing a long-term plan, some of the elements of which are: Copying 1,000 MSS on various branches of art from different libraries on microfilm. Finalising the Catalogue of MSS held in the West Library of the Great Mosque in Sana’a. This will be published in 10 volumes and describesl 1,000 titles. Preparing a catalogue of microfilmed MSS. Developing the Exhibition of Qur’anic parchments dating back to the first four centuries AH, so that it serves as a small museum for the various techniques of Arabic MS making. Cataloguing and restoring a large number of Qur’anic parchments. This will be carried out by a number of specialists from the UNESC© ‘Memory of the World’ project. A joint venture between Yemen and The Netherlands is restoring Al-Ran^d palace in Tarim, Hadramawt, to be the premises for alA^q^f library for MSS. The Dutch are to be responsible for supplying the library with the necessary equipment. 'Abd al-Malik alMaqhafi, Director-General ofManuscripts

I S L A M I C H £ R I T A G £ F O U N D A T I O N N E W S L £ T T E R II

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Portrait of an Institute MA'HAD AL-MAKHTÜTÂT AL'ARABIYYAH: THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY by Mabmüd Muhammad al-Tanâhî The Institute of Arabic Manuscripts (Ma'had alMakhtütât a l- 'A ra b iy y a h ) was founded in 1946, under the umbrella of the Arab League, with the following objectives: 1. To collect photographic copies of rare Arabic MSS and make them accessible to users. 2. To undertake the cataloguing of Arabic MS collections in public and private libraries and to publish those catalogues. 3. To publish important MSS and to become an international centre for scholarly collaboration in the field of Arabic MSS. In order to accomplish its first objective, the Institute formed a committee to scan Carl Brockelmann's encyclopaedic Geschichte der arabischen Litteratur for titles ofM SS and the names of libraries holding them. This committee consisted of 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Ahwâni, Khalil 'Asâkir and 'Abd al-Halîm al-Najjâr and its work resulted in the Cultural Department of the Arab League commissioning the translation into Arabic of Brockelmann's book. Three volumes were translated by al-Najjâr, who died before he could complete the task. As the Institute started to put its declared objectives into practice, it was obliged, due to the vastness of the field, to adopt certain criteria for prioritisation. This involved an assesment of the ‘rarity’ or ‘authenticity” of each MS according to received opinion among specialists. A card list was made of works cited by Brockelmann as well as other well-known MSS that he had not mentioned. The Institute started sending out missions to photograph and/or microfilm MSS in different parts of the world. Its activity in this field can be said to have passed through three stages: Stage ٠ ٠ ،‫؛‬: From its founding in 1946 to 1960. Stage Two: 1970 to 1978 when the Institute was placed under the aegis of the Arab League Education, Culture and Science Organisation (ALECSO), established in 1970. Stage Three: 1981 to 1990, when the Institute was moved to Kuwait Stage Four: 1990 to 1996, when the Institute returned to Cairo in the wake of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

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STAGE ONE

This stage begins with the first mission to Damascus and Aleppo 947 ‫ل ئ‬. The!-eafter, missions2 continued as follows: Cairo (1947): The Egyptian National Library (Dar al-Kutub al-Qawmiyyah al-Wataniyyah), attached libraries (i.e. those of Taymör, Tal'at and Halim) and the Al-Azhar Library were covered. Alexandria (1948): The Municipal Library (Maktabat al-Baladiyyah) and the Library of the Mosque of Shaykh Ibrahim Pasha were covered. Sohag (1948): libraries of Sohag in upper Egypt were covered. Istanbul (1949): this was the biggest step in the activities of the Institute, the greatest portion of extant Arabic MSS being in Turkey. Microfilms and photographic copies obtained from Istanbul are considered the cornerstone of the In stitu te 's acquisitions. India (1951-52): acquisitions from India are, in quantity, second in place only to those from Tstanhiil. Jerusalem (1953). Beirut (1953). Saudi Arabia (1995): libraries in Makkah and Madinah. Tunis (1956). Egypt (1957): Library of al-A^mad! Mosque in Tanta, the Municipal Library in Man^rah and the Library of the Religious Institute of Damietta. Italy (1957): Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan. Morocco (1958): Rabat, Fez, Marrakesh, and others. Iran (1960): The mission to Iran was the last of Stage One. During the 1960s the Institute's activities came to a standstill as a result of many factors; one of the most important among which was the departure of Salahuddin al-Munajj‫؛‬d who led the Institute for six years from 1955. STAGE TWO

During this stage the Institute was removed from the sphere of the Oeneral Secretariat of the Arab League to be placed under the aegis of the Arab League Education, Culture and Science Organisation (ALECSO), established in 1970. Towards the end of that year, the Institute decided to resume its worldwide quest for MSS to be catalogued and photographed. It started again to send out missions - although it must be noted that some of these missions were purely exploratory:^ Turkey (1970-71): an exploratory mission visited the libraries of Amasya, Ankara, Bursa, Edirne, Eskişehir, Gürün, Istanbul, Kayseri, Konya, Kütahya, Samsun and Üsküdar. Spain (1971): this mission was an extension of a previous exploratory visit to Spain and Portugal in 1969. Morocco (1972).

AL-FURQAN !SLAM!C HERITAGE FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER

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Libya (1972). Saudi Arabia (1973). Iran (1973). Arab Republic of Yemen (1974). Morocco (1975). Republic of South Yemen (1976). USSR (1977). STAGE THREE

In the late 1970s the Arab League moved its headquarters from Cairo to Tunis after certain political developments/ Ma'had al-Makhtütât al'Arabiyyah was moved to Kuwait, where it resumed its policy of sending out missions. In 1982 a mission was sent to Tunis and another to South Yemen. In 1985 North Yemen was visited and in 1986 Al-Asad National Library in Damascus (previously al-Maktabah alZahiriyyah). In 1989 a joint mission from the Institute and the Arab Heritage section at the National Council for Culture, Art and Literature in Kuwait visited the Ghazi Husrev-bey Library in Sarajevo. In the same year another mission visited the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan These missions succeeded in producing approximately 7 , 0 ‫ ه ه‬microfilms of MSS. In addition to these six missions, the Institute also arranged for MSS to be copied (without sending missions) from the collections of the Chester Beatty Library, in Dublin, the Islamic University of Imam Muhammad b. 'Abd al-'Aziz and King Saud University, both in Riyadh, and Princeton University, USA. STAGEFGUR

In August 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait and the MS holdings of the Institute were plundered.5 The Institute then returned to Cairo and resumed its services to researchers, drawing on its resources of 25,000 microfilms gathered in the period 1946 to 1979. It continues to publish its periodical and has published some important works such as: “Dhayl al-Durar al-Kaminah” by Ibn J^ajar al'Asqala.nl, Zujajfs “Tafslr Rishat Adab al-Katib”, “Şifat al-Sarj W^al-Li^m” by Ibn Durayd and “Al-Mu‘jam al-Shâmil lil-Turâth al-'Arabl alMatbö‘”. As for sending missions, that has ceased completely due to lack of funding. I have offered above a brief outline of the activities of the Institute in preserving MSS through microfilming and photography over a period of 50 years. A few further points however remain to be made 1. The Institute began its life under the aegis of the Cultural Section of the General Secretariat of the Arab League. The Cultural Section was at that time headed by two notable intellectuals, Tahâ Husayn and A^mad Amin. This is a key fact in explaining the achievements of that period.

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2 . Various Arab e x p e rts participated in channeling the activities ofthe Institute: from Egypt came Tâhâ Husayn, Ahmad Amin, 'Abd al'Aziz al-Ahw^ni, Khalil 'Asakir, and 'Abd alHalim al-Najjar; from Syria Yusuf al-'Ash, the first director of the Institute; from Morocco Muhammad ibn Tawlt al-Tanjl. 3. Two figures stand out, during whose days the Institute was a hub of activity and a true centre of learning: Salahuddin a]-Munajj‫؛‬d and Muhammad Rashad 'Abd al-Muttalib. Salahuddin al-Munajjid, a Syrian, led the Institute for six years from 1955. An authority on MSS and their locations, he travelled frequ£ntly and brought back to the Institute rare and precious works. During his time, the Institute built its fame and became a focal point for researchers. Muhammad Rashad 'Abd al-Muttalib, an Egyptian, was a peerless expert on Arabic books, whether printed or in MS form. Many of the rare acquisitions of the Institute are owed to him. He worked at the Institute from its foundation in 1946 until his death in 1975. 4. Institute was the first Arab body concerned with the preservation and circulation of MSS through microfilming. As such it laid down a methodology and established traditions of good practice. Studies of public and private libraries published in the Institute's journal served as a guide to researchers telling them where MSS existed, and how they could be accessed. A leading effort of the Institute was in professional and informative cataloguing. This important task was assigned by the Institute to a distinguished group of scholars: Lutfi ‘Abdul-BadI, Ibrahim Chabbouh and Fu’âd Sayyid. 5. The Institute's collection of photographed MSS gathered from various parts ofthe world opened new vistas for academic and non academic researchers. 6. The Institute has done a successful job for a long time. It has its own traditions and has clear objectives and the expertise to achieve them. All it needs now is money and resolve. The Institute has enjoyed an autonomous legal status since 9 ©ctober 1955. This enables it to accept donations and subsidies. N©TES:

1. For an account of criteria of rarity (nafasa) see Tanahı, M.M., al-Fihris al-W aşfî li-ba'd Nawadir al-Makhtütât bi-Jâmi'at al-Imâm Muhammad b. Sa'üd al-Islâmiyyah, Riyadh: 3‫ل‬4 ‫ل‬ AH/1993. Also an article by the same author in ‫رع‬'Arabi, Kuwait: July 1995. 2. Detailed descriptions of these missions are to be found in the issues of Majallat Ma'had alMakhtûtât of the period. 3. A full account of these missions is to be

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found in the Jubilee edition of MajallatMa'bad alMakhtütât, currently under print. 4. Editor's Note: The move to Kuwait came after Egypt signed the Camp David Peace Accords. 5. All the items taken from the Institute were later returned (except for one copy of each microfilm which was retained by the Iraqis). They have not, however, followed the Institute to Cairo, but remain in Kuwait to this day.

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Forthcoming Events 1 1 - 1 2 October 1 9 9 6 La Tradition Manuscrite en Ecriture Arabe This event is aimed primarily at post-graduate students working on an Arabic, ?ersian or Turkish text. It is organised by the Arabic Department of the Institut de Recherche et d’Histoire des Textes in coilaboration with the Bibliotheque Nationale de France and the board of Maauscrits ‫ الك‬Moyen Orient of the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes of Paris. Fee: 100FF, Students: 50 FF. Enquiries to Mme G. Humbert, ‘Journees d’initiation’. Section Arabe de l’I.R.H.T., 52 rue du Cardinal-Lemoine, 75005 Paris

2 6 October 1 9 9 6 Islamic Spain, University of©xford. Department of Continuing Education The British pre-occupation with the arts of Islamic Spain dates to the early 19th Century, when Owen Jones pioneered the study of the Alhambra. Today, the best-known of the Islamic arts of Spain continues to be architecture. Less accessible to the general public, but equally important, are the illuminated manuscripts of Spain. This day school aims to introduce both the major artefacts and the architectural monuments of this tradition.

3 N ovem ber 1 9 9 6

،٠6 A pril 1 9 9 7

Islamic Arts of the Near East, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington The Islamic section of the Gallery will show a collection of beautifully decorated Persian manuscripts including drawings, graphs and works of calligraphy, all in the context of an exhibition entitled Arts ofPersian Palaces.

1 4 ^ 1 6 A pril 1 9 9 7 19th International Conference of the European Association of Middle East Librarians (MELCOM) SOAS, University of London One session will be devoted to Islamic MSS (venue: the British Library).

A L - F U R Q A N I S L A M I C H E R I T A G E F O U N D A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R II

ISSN 1363-9325 Al-Furqan Foundation's Newsletter is an annual publication.

All correspondence should be addressed to the relevant department at: Al-Furq^ Islamic Heritage Foundation Eagle House High Street Wimbledon London SW19 5EF Tel: 0181 944 1233 Fax: 0181 944 1633 Telex: 925447 FURQAN G 22

A L - F U R Q A N I S L A M I C H E R I T A G E F O U N D A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R II

‫ف ي ال عال م‬

‫ا ل م خ ط و ط ا ت ا إل س ال م ي ة‬

‫اب زء األول‬ ‫ال س ت ا ر ال خل و ج ى‬

‫عيد‬

‫ت ر ج م ة و ن ح ق ي ق؛‬

Al-Makhfûtât al-Islâmiyyah f i al-’Âlam: al-juz al-awwal translated ‫ ه‬edited by 'Abd al-Sattâr al-Halwajl '

The monumental World Survey of Islamic Manuscripts, published originally in English is now being translated into Arabic. The World Survey was in four volumes, the Arabie version will be in at least five, as Arabie is a more descriptive language, and because of the duplication of titles and names in Arabic and Latin script. Volume ©ne of this work, Al-Makhtütât al-Islâmiyyah f îa l - ‘Âlam, has already been translated and edited, and the indexes are being prepared. Volume One will be published by the end of the year, with Volumes Two and Three in 1997 and the remaining volumes in 1998/9. Volume One contains the surveys of the following countries (alphabetically in Arabic): Ethiopia; Azerbaijan; Jordan; Armenia; Spain; Australia; Estonia; Afghanistan; Albania; United Arab Emirates; Indonesia; Uzbekistan; Ukraine; Germany; Italy; Iran; Ireland; ?akistan; Bahrain; and Bra7.il Each volume of Al-Makhtûtât al-Islâmiyyah fîal-'Âlam will have three indexes — index of names, index of languages and index of titles of collection of Islamic manuscripts. ‫<س‬

:‫غرناطة‬ UnivcrsidaddcGranada ‫ جاسةغرناطة‬- ١ Cue^ta del Hospicio, Granada :‫وارما‬

,‫ ا ط بمأالريإ‬j ‫دهض مكبهامطوث إسالما‬ ‫ط‬

SAM?LE

?AGE

‫ ا طر ص ر س الذ ي ا س م أتا ج ر د م كاردبماص و ه ر‬،‫ للممار ص ال ش ر ر؛‬٠٣٠‫وب م‬ . ‫س م د ك را سا ت مريت‬

‫ ث ص‬، ‫ ي دال خ د‬، ‫ءأنى ذ م‬-‫ ل‬١٨١٧

Abadladel Sacromonte ‫ ممد ماكروعولت‬- ٢ ‫ر ذ و < لم ا غ م‬ ‫باللغة‬

y u • ‫مفلتة‬

‫رم‬

١٦ ١ • ‫ ر جع أ ر ي ا م م ا ث م ا م مام‬،‫ويم *محة ه م أ‬

‫ م خف ر ف‬٢ ١ ‫ وممم‬. ‫ر ذ ك م ا ما ح م ن ب م د نجدهما‬

‫ محغرظ‬،‫ رماك م ط ر د م س الش ر ب د‬. ‫م إ م ح م؛ شلتة‬

‫شاجت ل ال ش خ ا م‬

‫ م حتو ظأ •ع مم»ت‬، ‫محرهم‬

:‫ انظر‬.‫*ديدآل مخرا بي أحد يرك غرس‬- ‫ش خزاه‬

‫عمآربمخمذممضصارسامحض‬-‫معاا ؛هالمعآصصص‬ ‫ ( ويد س ق ذ ك م ء ن م ا ل ي ا ب س‬٢ • i

—٢ *٣

‫ ص ص‬،‫ رومان‬٠، ‫ ؛ ال خم ر الدي م‬١٩٩٠ .‫ا ل و ح م‬

:‫ارساصا‬،‫اه‬ UebcreinigeİHGranadaentdeckte‫ءالءء؛س‬Haadscbriften:١AAT R . D o z y . ‫ لوزي‬.‫ ر‬:‫ ب م م‬،] ‫الممعنةض غرناملت‬

‫ا ت الرهن‬،‫[ص بمص اءطو‬

ZcitsclmftdcrDeutschenMoTgenlSndiscbenCeseIIschafi*İJt^

AL-FURQAN ISLAMIC HERITAGE FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER

L e s m a t h S m a t i q u e s i n f î n î t â s i m a l e s d u I X ? ‫ ال ق‬X P

s i& c le

Vol. I: FONDATEURS ET COMMENTATEURS Banö Musa, Ibn Qurra, Ibn Sinan, al-Khâzin, al-Qühî, Ibn al-Samh, Ibn Hüd Vol. H: IBN AL-HAYTHAM [Travaux en mathematiques infinitesimales] Vol. m: IBN AT--HAYTHAM [Etudes ^٧٢ les coniques et sur leurs applications] - ‫؛‬٢١^ e ^ a t io n R o sh d i R a sh ed

This corpus mathematicorum is devoted to Ibn al-Haytham's mathematical works, to those of his predecessors and successors, on the measurement ofcurved surfaces and solids, lunes, solid angle, exhaustion method, etc., as well as to their contributions to the theory of conics ‫ س‬their applications.

-'‫ه‬

PLAN

OF P U B L I C A T ;

،N

Vol. I: October 1996, ISBN 1 873992 18 1, @ 1,125 pp. Cloth with dustjacket Vol. II: Spring 1993, ISBN 1 873992 07 6, @ 598 pp. Cloth with dust jacket [Vol. II is available for the first time anywhere in the world with the publication of Vol. I] Vol. Ill: Autumn 1998, @598 pp. Cloth with

dustjacket Priceper volume: £80.00 until‫ ا و‬December 1996 2-volume set (I ‫ ه‬II): £140.00 3-volume set: £204.00

Vol. I — Les Banü Müsâ et le calcul du volume de la splrâre et du cylindre Thabit ibn Qurra et ses travaux en math6matiques ‫؛‬nfinit6s‫؛‬males Ibn Sinân, critique d'al-Mâhânı: Aire de la parabole Abu Ja'far al-Khâzin sur les isop^m‫؛‬tres et les is6piphanes Al-QuhT, critique de Thâbit: Volume du paraboloide de revolution Ibn al-Samh: Les sections planes du cylindre et la determination de leurs aires Ibn ^ d . La mesure de la parabole et le probl<‫؛‬me isop^ritn&rique Notes compl6menta‫؛‬res, Glossaires arabe-français, arabe-latin, Mbreu-français,| Index des noms propres, des concepts et des citations, Bibliographie

This bringing together, for the first time, in a critical edition of.all these treatises, marks another step forward in the historical study of mathematics in Medieval Islamic society. Translations face the original Arabic treatises, historical and mathematical studies precede them.

Vol. II— Ibn al-Haytham: La quadrature des lunules et du cercle Roshdi Rashed ‫ م ا‬calcul des volumes des paraboloi'des e، de la sphere et la m6thode d'exhaustion Director of Research at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ‫ ءما‬probtemes des isoperim&res et des isĞpiphanes et l'6tude de l'angle solide (CNRS),Paris L'approximation des racines Director, Centre d'Histoire des Sciences et des Philosophies Arabes et Notes compl6mentaires, Glossaire arabe-français, Index des noms propres, Medi6vales des concepts et des citations, Bibliographie Director ٠‫ ؛‬the Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) in Epistemology and the History ofthe Exact Sciences (University of Paris 7) Professor ofthe History of Mathematics, University of Tokyo

166 '

- Cette louuk - 2 1 , ‫ ف ض‬٩« ، tout، luoule ‫■ س ه ط ا س ه‬I d ٠٠١ pour ‫ سههم‬£ ' u s c a rle complet, ٠ ua، propıü ti qui Q'،ppart،eaı p u >ux •uucs htsulcs, a r en droite* ptr*ll،les — q،،i / ton ) ‫< س ه‬٠ luoule »١ ‫ اءلس‬٩١٠، ti on In prolongs , »[‫؛‬،، wiwnmwni ‫ ما‬droite ‫ *ص‬tuivant de* u g le i droiu — ٠٥٠( toutes jplH El ceUe. p،rmi eDft. qui tembe ،u milieu > ١٠ la luoule est ،{،le ، Kilt qui to»be ‫ ه‬٠٠٠ .، ewrfanit

‫ا‬-‫»ا اءص صا‬

ProuvoM a l* par la d ân o m ım io o : T n ç o » UQ cerde tu t kquel . ‫ ه‬y ٠ A. B » C ; ٠١ teparo tu ‫ ء س ه‬cercle ١١٠٠ portion quekonque plui ٣ ،، qu'un >‫•نعءل‬ ‫ء|ءرءء‬, «o it le ‫ م‬، ‫ ا ه م‬ADC. Joignoni AC. coiutruisotu <ur la droile AC ‫صم‬ ،ejm eol A E C egal au K fo c at ADC. p trtafeoiu ‫ س ه‬،‫ ء‬A C ea ‫>• د س س م‬، ‫ع‬.‫ ءأ‬point ٠ . tnesotu la perpcadiculaİR ÇEB / et proİQQfEoıu-la ٠٠ ٠ . Suppototu tur ‫ ءءه'ا‬BC ٧٥‫ اه؛مء‬quelcoaquc. toit M. «( menous <٠ petpendiculaift UQOU

‫د‬

‫م‬

qut h

‫ م ء‬،‫ ا‬،

MQ est ifa l t

‫ء سط ه‬

‫امهءمس 'ا‬،‫ل* ء‬.‫ت‬

4‫ت‬

‫ وقرن إذا ا م ت مل ف ن ا ن ت ث‬. ‫ ء ع ب‬/ ‫ا م‬

‫رني ف ع ى (بمط الهالل ن إ سا ر الدي‬،‫جبت ما ت ا ط ا ؤئبم‬ ، ‫نم ف ءارء‬

‫و س ل ن ا ست أمل *ن‬

‫؛‬

- ٦? -

‫ دذللث أد الخلوف اهوارة‬، ‫ ألف‬، — is ١٠‫مل زر؛إ‬

‫خد ا ج‬

‫ ا ي ء‬1‫ ي ز م ءاثر؛ ءدم‬: ‫ د‬،*‫ي ن ذلك ؛الحم‬

‫رنمر م ل م ال < س ا ء ء سا رة‬

‫ ج‬١ ‫رم ل‬

،‫ء‬

‫ دهكن ست ا د‬، ‫ي ا اذق‬

‫ م‬-‫ ا‬. ‫ رتقف إ ل د‬/ ‫ رمح م رد ز ع ب‬- ‫ مد ي مني ن مل سلت ر‬١ ‫س ة ا ا ء ا ن ن م ت ط‬ ■‫ص‬

‫ض م د ؛قا‬

•

‫ رمحكن م‬، ‫ ل توص ب ج ئ ه م ت ا ص ت‬، ‫رنتريس‬ , ‫ إل ن ط آ ت شل ن ط ب م‬: ‫ه'مل‬

BE.

Demonstration: BD « ١ ua diam،tre que ٠٠٧٠ ptnageom ٠١ ‫ ذ ا‬m nti،s <u H, H ett ٠٠٠، le cesiR d u ‫ ءمء‬،‫ء‬. Menoai d u ‫ اء ؛ «ا‬H <٠ perpendicuUire HP. elk ‫ ء ص ء‬M U ‫ هء‬deuı meali،* •u point ‫م‬. Puiique ‫« ا‬etm eni ADC CD plu> petit qu'a n demi-catlc , ،٠ droile ‫ ء ه‬e*t phit ( n o d e que ١٠ droi،، CD . '.، ١٠٢ Potoıu B l ،falc ٠ ٥٠ , il r a te done IH ‫ ظ ءء‬، HC. Menoiu du p c i o t / / u s e droitf U K p»‫؛‬p«sdiculaifc i u dro<،e ‫ هء‬. Le ‫ المءءءم‬LBK ea ٠٠٠، ejaJ ٠٧ .

‫< شء‬

‫ ن ا م أ ل م ت لمار‬، ‫ سا ر س كا ن؛■أط‬، ‫ يكدن م ط‬، ‫مكا الهالل وص مالل‬ -j

‫ مكرن ح م م ا ل د م؛ دم ج‬، ‫ص ؛ م ض ر ئ ه ح‬

،‫ب ع محو‬

‫ فألن س م ا د ج ا مل م ن‬. ‫س م • ص غ س ر سلم ت‬

‫ أن‬: ‫ن ذل ك‬،‫برم‬

، ‫ح زم‬

‫ا‬

‫ر غال خ ء م ا‬

‫ محق د ح *تل‬، ‫ ت ج ل ي د مغل ذل‬. ‫ ؛كون خ د ب ز ا'م ملم من خ د زء‬،‫ن ذ ءار؛‬ ' ‫ر<؛‬

‫؛كرن س ل ب’ ك ط‬، . ‫ر غط ب ء‬

‫ مرن؛‬T T T J

‫ خ د‬/ ‫ض س غط ت آ‬

■**—‫ م لم] ا—مت‬:‫مص‬j * ،1[ ‫<ءم‬-،• :‫ امآا— <خم‬. u ‫ _|اكه؛نمتجأساى‬.. ‫ س |ا‬. ‫ ء‬I ‫ د)ج‬-‫ م‬-1‫ئامآت‬: [ ‫انمإل‬2‫ س‬. - ' 1‫ ا م‬- )‫ سا ل‬: ~ ‫بمل‬، - |‫ يذبم‬:‫ اعض‬- ‫ادا‬ ‫بم‬:‫الد‬/;‫ديافيسضلر‬: ‫ اامص‬- ‫ مر _ا‬:‫ مإم‬- ‫;ببما‬،;‫رزهم‬,‫ر ي‬،‫نحب رمم‬ .‫ مت ادا‬:‫ إدااسذ‬٠‫■'ح‬ '{‫ ااح‬- )‫بمأملل‬:‫كرذ‬1‫ت‬٠ )‫[بت‬

AL-FURQAN ISLAMIC HERITAGE FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER