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The Alexandria Municipal Library is one of the oldest municipal libraries
in Egypt. It opened for the public a century ago, in particular in 1892.
From that time on, its content has vastly developed to include thousands
of books, periodicals and manuscripts. Its manuscript collection amounting
to six thousands (though the official number is two thousands less!)
renders it the richest manuscript library in Alexandria. The content has
gradually increased due to the donations that continued for six successive
decades until the glorious Revolution of July1952. The largest collection
that has ever come in the possession of the Municipal Library of
Alexandria is the collection of Ibrāhīm Pasha (Foster son of
Muhammad ‘Aliy Pasha and the General of his army). We came to this
conclusion after examination of the total content of the library, as it
appeared that more than 1200 manuscripts bear the signature and sometimes
the seal (ex libirs) of Ibrāhīm Pasha, always written in the
formula: Ibrāhīm Sar‘askar (the title of general in the army
of the Ottoman Empire). As for the rest of the manuscripts, neither they
nor the records of the Municipal Library include any indication to the
donators!
The
current cataloging takes place after 65 years since the first cataloging
process. The latter was carried out by Muhammad al-Bašīr al-Šinidiy,
who enumerated the manuscript within the library in 1935. al-Šinidiy
did a splendid job; however, it is not valid anymore due to the increase
of the content almost to the double. According to the present cataloging,
the collection comprises six thousand manuscripts; whereas, al-Šinidiy’s
cataloging and the current records of the library mention only four
thousand manuscripts! Moreover, al-Šinidiy’s catalog and the
records are both non-descriptive lists of manuscripts, while my work is
based on the set rules of descriptive cataloging.
The
rarities among the Alexandria Municipal Library collection are numerous
covering assorted fields of knowledge. Chief among them are:
·
al-Jāmi‘ al-Sahīh-
‘The Comprehensive Corpus of Accurate Hadith’ (Prophetic Traditions)
by Imam Muslim bin-al-Hajjāj al-Naysābūriy, d.261 H. (875
AD). Transcribed by Khalaf bin-Hakīm in kufic script in 368 H. (978
AD). 233 folios. It is considered the oldest manuscript of the collection.
·
al-Mudawana fī Fiqh al-Mālikiyya-
‘Maliki Jurisprudence Corpus,’ one of the most invaluable
manuscripts in four gazelle’s hide volumes, each in sumptuous red
leather box. Transcribed in maghribi script at different dates (from 499
to 530H., 1106 to 1136 AD).
·
al-Jāmi‘
li-Akhlāq al-Rāwī wa Adāb al-Sā-
‘The Comprehensive Book on the Narrator’s Ethics and Audience’s
Discipline’ by al-Khatīb al-Bahgdādiy (d. 463 H., 1071 AD). A
note, at the end of the manuscript, states that this copy was revised and
approved by Abūl-Qāsim al-Mubarrid bin-Muhammad bin-al-Hasan
(Ibn al-Buzūriy)
who had previously recited this book on its author, al-Khatīb
al-Baghdādiy in 529 H. (1135 AD), i.e., the manuscript was written
close to the date of the author’s time.
·
ūd
‘Definitions’ by the physician Abūl Hasan Sa‘īd
bin-Hibatillāh (d. 495 H., 1102 AD). An old worn-out manuscript
transcribed during the author’s lifetime. 40 folios.
·
Ghāyat
al-Maqsid fī Zawā’id al-Musnad- ‘The Ultimate Goal in the
Musnad Supplementary’ by Nūr
al-Dīn
al-Haythamiy (d. 807 H., 1404 AD). Transcribed by ‘Āsim
bin-Muhammad bin-Ishāq in naskh script during
the author’s lifetime (793 H., 1391 AD).
·
Islāh
al-Mantiq- ‘Refinement of
Pronunciation’ by Ibn al-Sikkīt (d. 244 H., 858 AD). Transcribed in
old maghribi script probably
in the 4th century of the Hijra (10th c. AD). 107
folios.
·
Dīwān
Salāma bin-Jandal, the divan of the pre-Islamic
poet Salāma bin-Jandal, (as told by al-Asma‘iy) transcribed by
‘Aliy bin-Muhammad in thuluth script in 494 H. (1101 AD). 26 folios.
·
ā-
‘The Adequate’ by Imam al-Nasafiy (d. 710 H., 1310 AD). Transcribed in
common script in 691 H. (1292 AD), i.e., during the author’s lifetime.
146 folios.
·
āšif
al-Rumūz wa Muzhir al-Kunūz-
‘Decipherer of Symbols and Discoverer of Treasures’ by al-Tūsiy
(Diyāīāniy, d. 706 H., 1306
AD). Transcribed by Salh
al-Dīn
al-Jiyliy in naskh script in 680 H. (1281 AD). 243 folios.
·
-
‘The Introduction’ written by Ibn al-Salāh (d. 643 H., 1245 AD).
A rare copy transcribed in 634 H. (1236 AD) and recited on its author. (It
is also entitled in the manuscript Ma‘rifat
‘Ulūm al-Hadīth- ‘The
Study of Sciences of Hadith
·
Sunan
Ibn Mājah- ‘The Sunna of Ibn Mājah’ a priceless
masterpiece in two volumes. It is considered the pinnacle of Arabic
artistry as the illuminator excelled in decorating it in gold interspersed
with powdered precious stones.
Scientific
Manuscripts
Our
choice of the scientific manuscripts to constitute the first volume in the
series of the comprehensive catalog of the Municipal Library of Alexandria
is due to two reasons. The first is that the Arab scientific legacy is the
most neglected branch of the Arab heritage in our contemporary culture,
despite its paramount significance to highlight the Arab contributions to
the human scientific experience, and being a key reference for recognizing
the nature of the cultural composition of the Arab and Islamic mentality
throughout the centuries. Thus, this aspect of our heritage remains
unknown with its repositories of knowledge locked-up between walls, and
yet not scientifically published expect for just more than thirty books.
Therefore, we have developed a special interest in this important part of
the Arab heritage preserved in the Municipal Library of Alexandria.
The
second reason is that we initiated the cataloging process with the
scientific manuscripts in accordance to the general cultural policy of the
Bibliotheca Alexandrina; giving a great deal of attention to the history
of science. The ancient Library of Alexandria was the main connecting link
in the history of human knowledge. It inherited the Greek sciences that
originated in ancient Egypt, to develop and pass them on to the Islamic
civilization, which in its turn handed them over to Europe. Hence, the
Bibliotheca Alexandrina focuses on the history of science, which is
actually the history of the Library of Alexandria throughout the centuries
and the evolvement of the world civilizations. Therefore, it was
inevitable for us not to start the cataloging with the scientific
manuscripts.
The
first catalog comprises manuscripts on physics, mathematics, astronomy,
medicine (including pharmacy) and related fields. It presents meticulous
and detailed descriptions of 468 manuscripts (in addition to 12 Turkish
and Persian manuscripts). A large number of them were hidden away from the
reach of researchers, especially that neither the library’s records nor al-Šinidiy’s catalog mentions exclusively the
manuscripts within the library, as it apperars from the following
examples:
I.
The manuscripts on medicine
and pharmacy in ’s
catalog number 50 and in the library’s records list 92, whereas the
catalog in hand enumerates 119 items (27 extra).
II.
The manuscripts on mathematics
and related fields in ’s
catalog number 56 and in the library’s records list 88, whereas the
catalog in hand enumerates 111 items (23 extra).
III.
The manuscripts on astronomy and related fields in al-Šinidiy’s
catalog number 102 and in the library’s records list 120, whereas the
catalog in hand enumerates 215 items (95 extra).
IV.
The manuscripts on physics and
related fields in al-Šinidiy’s
catalog number 11 and in the library’s records list 25, whereas the
catalog in hand enumerates 43 items (18 extra).
Among
the rarities of the catalog are the old as well as scarce manuscripts. It
also includes rare autograph codices written by Baššār
Zalzal, Mahmūd Qabūdān and others, such as the following
examples:
·
Šarh
al-Qādī Zāda al-Rūmiy alā Kitāb (al-Mulakhas
fī al-Hay’a al-Basīta)-
‘Explanation of al-Qādī Zāda al-Rūmiy on the Book
(Compenduim on Simple Astronomy) written by al-Jaghmīniy in 820 H.
·
Sad
al-Ādhān ‘ann Dhikr Šurb al-Dukhān –
‘Blocking Ears from Speaking of Smoking’ written by Šihāb
al-Dīn al-Nūbiy in 1037 H.
·
Mā Rawāh al-Wā‘ūn
min al-Akhbār al-Tā‘ūn– ‘The
Knowledgeable People’s Accounts on the News of the Plague’ written by
Ibn ‘Atīq in 1052.
·
Hadyat al-Khalīl (Manzūma
fī al-Hisāb)- ‘The Guide of the Friend’
(Treastise in verse on Arithmetic) written by al-Šibīniy in 1250
H.
As
for the old manuscripts in the library’s collection, more than thirty
scientific works were written before the tenth century of the Hijra, i.e.
they are many centuries old and still defying time. To name some of them:
·
al-Zīj
al-Jāmi-
‘The Comprehensive Ephemeris’ by Kūšiyār al-Jiyliy
transcribed from an autograph
in 566 H. (the oldest scientific manuscript in the library).
·
Maqāla fī al-Naqras
– ‘Treatise on Gout’ by the eminent scholar al-Rāziy(Abū-Bakr Muhammad bin-Zakariyā, d. 313 H.),
transcribed in 595 H.
·
al-Usūl fī
Šarh al-Fusūl
– ‘Fundamentals of the Explanation of the Aphorisms’ by Ibn al-Quf
al-Karakiy, transcribed in 683 H., with the signature of Ibn al-Quf
al-Karakiy sealing its recital to him.
·
Kulliyyāt al-Hisāb-
‘Principles of Arithmetic’ by al-Zarkašiy, transcribed by Hasan
bin-Tayyib, the author’s student in 677 H.
·
al-Mughnī fī al-Adwiya al-Mufrada
– ‘The Sufficient Book on Simple Drugs’ by
Ibn al-Baytār, transcribed in
762 H. (i.e. around the author’s time) by al-Hasan bin-‘Aliy, the
renowned Sinjarian physician.
·
Risālafī
al-Hisāb-
‘Treatise on Arithmetic’ by an anonymous author transcribed in 753 H.
Some
manuscripts are of a special importance. Although, written in relatively
late periods, they document significant historical episodes, such as the
pictorial, encyclopedic codex written by the priest ‘Īsā Petro
in 1810, i.e. in the dawn of the modern renaissance in Egypt.
During
the compilation of this catalog, it attracted our attention that certain
manuscripts are repeatedly transcribed in a striking manner, which
reflects the interest of the Arab scholars in such works, though they are
almost unknown in our present culture. They are as follows:
·
al-Risāla al-Fathiyya fī
al-‘Amāl al-Jaybiyya by Sabt al-Mardīniy, an astronomical
manuscript (eleven copies).
·
Kifāyat
al-Qanū‘ fī al-‘Amal bi-al-Rub‘ al-Maqtū‘ bySabtal- Mardīniy
(nine copies).
·
Khulāsat
al-Hisāb
by Bahā’ al-Dīn al-‘Āmiliy (six copies).
·
al-Wasīla
(Mukhtasar al-Ma‘ūna fī ‘Ilm al-Hisāb) by
Ibn al-Hā’im (five copies).
·
Risāla
fī al-‘Amal bi-al-Rub‘al-Marsūm bi-al-Muqantarāt by
Ibn al-Majdiy (five copies).
These
are mere examples of the accumulated copies of particular manuscripts
transcribed over and over again through the centuries. These works that
enjoyed special interest in the past require increasing attention and
study from our contemporary scholars to find the reasons behind such
interest, and to highlight, thereby, important intervals in the history of
sciences.
Persian
and Turkish Scientific Manuscripts in the Municipal Library of Alexandria
1.
al-Qānūn fī al-Tib- ‘Canon in Medicine’ written by Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna), volume
I. An illuminated Turkish manuscript transcribed in naskh script in 1175
H., 1179 H. 404 Folios. Subject: medicine. (3066/B Medicine).
2.
al-Qānūn fī al-Tib- ‘Canon in Medicine’ written by Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna), volume
II. An illuminated Turkish manuscript transcribed in naskh script in 1180
H. 653 Folios. Subject: medicine. (3066/B Medicine).
3.
Tashīl al-Mīqāt wa Ta‘yīn al-Awqāt-
‘Facilitating Date and Specifying Time’ written by Mustafā
bin-‘Aliy. The manuscript is in good condition preserved within a codex.
It contains foxing spots and holes. 9 folios. Transcribed around 1630 AD
(1040 H.) in Turkish. Subject: astronomy. (4979/ D Astronomy).
4.
Risāla
fī al-Adwiya-
‘Treatise on Drugs’ written by an anonymous author in Turkish. The
manuscript is in good condition preserved within a codex. It contains
foxing spots and holes. 29 folios. Subject: medicine-pharmacy (547/D
Miscellaneous Arts).
5.
Risāla
fī al-‘Amal bi-al-Rub‘ al-Mujīb
written by Mustafā bin-‘Aliy.
The manuscript
is in good condition preserved within a codex. It contains foxing spots
and holes. 36 folios. Written probably in the thirteenth century of the
Hijra in Turkish. Subject: astronomy. (5206/D Astronomy).
6.
Risāla
fī al-Tib- ‘Treatise on Medicine’ written by an anonymous author in Turkish. A
good copy preserved within a codex. 11 folios. Subject: medicine. (547/ D
Miscellaneous Arts).
7.
Risāla
fī al-‘Amal bi-al-Asturlāb- ‘Treatise on Using the Astrolabe’ written
by Mustafā bin-‘Aliy.The manuscript
is in good condition preserved within a codex. It contains foxing spots
and holes. 31 folios. Written probably in the thirteenth century of the
Hijra in Turkish. Subject: astronomy. (5206/D Astronomy).
8.
Risāla
fī al-Marad al-Afiranjiy- ‘Treatise on Syphilis’ written by an anonymous
author in Turkish. The manuscript is in good condition preserved within a
codex. It contains foxing spots and holes. 4 folios. Subject: medicine
(547/D Miscellaneous Arts).
9.
Kifāyat
al-Qanū‘ fī al-‘Amal bi-al-Rub‘ al-Maqtū‘
writtenbySabtal- Mardīniy.
The manuscript is in good condition preserved within
a codex. It contains foxing spots and holes. 11 folios. Written probably
in the thirteenth century of the Hijra in Turkish. Subject: astronomy.
(5206/D Astronomy).
10.Kifāyat
al-Mujāhid fī al-Tib-
‘Sufficiency of the Striver in Medicine,’ an anonymous, worn out,
Persian manuscript. Subject: medicine. (10792/ C Medicine).
11.Selections
from assorted sciences written by Hāfiz Mustafā al-‘Aššāqiy.
The
manuscript is in good condition preserved within a codex. It contains
foxing spots and holes. 10 folios. Written in 1200 H. in Turkish. Subject:
general knowledge. (5244/DMiscellaneous
Arts).
12.Selections
from assorted sciences, written
by an anonymous author in Turkish. The manuscript is in good condition
preserved within a codex. It contains foxing spots and holes. 37 folios.
Subject: general knowledge. (5067/DMiscellaneous
Arts).
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