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Persian poetry

 Subject

Staff Only
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings

Found in 90 Collections and/or Records:

Fragments, 15th(?)-19th centuries

 Series
Identifier: Or Ms 687
Scope and Contents Or Ms 687 consists of 52 fragments or groupings of fragments, mostly manuscripts, with a few printed items.See individual catalogue entries for more details. The titles and descriptions have been transcribed from the original wrappings, although it is important to note that the previous cataloguer did not have specialized knowledge, resulting in many entries being vague or potentially inaccurate. Nevertheless, we have made the choice to share them online to make these documents...
Dates: 15th(?)-19th centuries
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia
Detail of page from the Compendium of Chronicles by Rashid al-Din. Shows text with central miniature depicting the Sultan Luhrasp seated on a throne, surrounded by attendants. [Please click twice to see the full manuscript]
Detail of page from the Compendium of Chro...

Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

 Collection
Identifier: Or Ms
Scope and Contents This collection consists of over 700 manuscripts pertaining to the Islamicate world and South Asia, dating from the 10th to 19th centuries C.E. (the majority being post-1500). Chiefly bound paper codices, it includes sacred texts of importance to the Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh faiths, Qur’anic commentaries, Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad and the Shi’i Imams, works treating Islamic law, world history, the history of India, medicine,...
Dates: 10th-19th centuries C.E. (bulk: post-1500 C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Shāh u darvīsh, 965 A.H., 1557-58 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 469
Scope and Contents Shāh u darvīsh, also known as Shāh u gidā / gadā, (King and Beggar), is an allegorical mas̲navī by Badr al-Dīn Hilālī Jughatāʾī, also known as Astarābādī, (b. Astarābād, ca. 874 A.H. /1470 C.E.; d. Herat, 936 A.H. /1529 C.E.). Its treats an innocent love between a poor pupil of a seminary and his princely classmate.The text of the present copy begins: ای وجود تو اصل هر موجود / هستی...
Dates: 965 A.H.; 1557-58 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

Siḥr-i ḥalāl (Licit Magic), undated

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 732
Scope and Contents This is a fragment of Siḥr-i ḥalāl (Licit Magic), a Persian Sufi allegory in the masnavī style (composed in rhyming couplets), by Muḥammad ibn Yūsuf Ahlī Shīrāzī (858-942 A.H./ 1454-1535 or 1536 C.E.). The volume is written in fine nasta‘līq and on hand-coloured (orange, pink) or marbled paper with a polychrome frontispiece and headings and frames in gold throughout. It is in a later binding...
Dates: undated
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

اسکندر نامهٔ برّی Iskandar-nāma-i barrī, 1180 A.H., 1766 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 279
Scope and Contents

The first part of the celebrated poem of Shaykh Jamal al-Dīn Abū Muḥammad Ilyas b. Mu'ayyad Niẓām al-Dīn, "Niẓāmī" of Ganjah, who was born at Qum, 535 A.H. (1140 C.E.), and probably died 599 A.H. (1203 C.E.), though the dates of his death are variously described, 576-607 A.H. (1180-1210 C.E.).

This section of the poem contains an account of the exploits of Alexander the Great.

Dates: 1180 A.H.; 1766 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

اسکندر نامهٔ برّی Iskandar-nāmah-i barrī, undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 101
Scope and Contents A complete manuscript, in good preservation, of the first part of a much celebrated romance. It contains an account of the exploits of Alexander the Great as a conqueror, and was written in admirable verse by the famous Shaykh Jamal al-Dīn Abū Muḥammad Ilyas b. Mu'ayyad Niẓām al-Dīn, "Niẓāmī" of Ganjah, who was born at Qum (Iran), 535 A.H. (1140 C.E.), and probably died 599 A.H. (1203 C.E.), though the dates of his death are variously described, 576-607 A.H. (1180-1210 C.E.). ...
Dates: undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

اشعار مختلف Ash‘ār-i mukhtalif, undated

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 311
Scope and Contents

This manuscript contains selections of verse from various poets, including ‘Umar Khayyām, Khāliṣ, and others.

Dates: undated
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

اشعار مختلف Ash'ār-i mukhtalif, undated

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 113
Scope and Contents

Contains short selections from miscellaneous poems. A few of the ghazals, etc., are in Urdū. The most favoured poet seems to be "Walī", who was the first to attempt to write a dīvān in the Urdu language.

Dates: undated
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

اظهار الحق Iẓhār al-ḥaqq, undated (extant by 17th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 264
Scope and Contents

A Persian translation of some of the difficult lines in the qasīdahs written by 'Alī b. Abī Ṭalib (cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muḥammad, and First Imām of Shi'i Islam). It includes comments by Mīr Sayyid Walī, who compiled it at the desire of his father.


The main text is written in nasta'līq script with the Arabic quotations from the poetry written in naskh.

Dates: undated (extant by 17th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

بوستان Būstān, undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 288
Scope and Contents

This is a complete copy of the Būstān of the famous Persian poet Sa‘dī (d. circa 690 A.H., 1291 C.E.). It contains numerous microscopic notes written round the margins.

Transcribed at Faiz̤ābād, 1185 A.H., 1771 C.E.

Dates: undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia