Back to Search

Quintessence of Purity (Ṣafvat al-ṣafā’), by Ibn Bazzāz Ardabīlī (d. 1371)

Title	Quintessence of Purity (Ṣafvat al-ṣafā’), by Ibn Bazzāz Ardabīlī (d. 1371)
Publication Date:	1557 (964H)
Type	Document
Language	Persian
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	Yes
Physical Dimensions	230 mm x 169 mm x 50 mm (height x width x depth)
Library:	Chester Beatty
Record ID	Per 344
Library Location	Persian collection
Date	1557 (964H)
Notes	Quintessence of Purity (Ṣafvat al-ṣafā’), by Ibn Bazzāz Ardabīlī (d. 1371). The Safavid shahs were direct descendants of the saintly Shaykh Ṣafī al-Dīn (died 1334), whose holy tomb at Ardabil for centuries attracted pilgrims, Sufi followers, and shrine patronage. This manuscript is Shaykh Ṣafī's biography, and describes his pious life, sayings and miracles, as well as his family history. Under Shah Ṭahmāsp (r. 1524-1576), a re-worked official version underlined the Ardabil saint’s ancestry, linking his family tree directly back to the Seventh Imam, Mūsā al-Kāẓim (died 799). By extension, this information also transformed the sacred identity of the Safavid shahs themselves, confirming their holy status as sayyids, descended from the Prophet Muḥammad. Codex, ink on paper, 380 folios, Persian text in black nasta`liq script, with red rubrics, Quintessence of Purity (Ṣafvat al-ṣafā’), composed c. 1358 by Tavakkulī ibn Ismā`īl ibn Bazzāz Ardabīlī (d. 1371), biography of Shaykh Ṣafī al-Dīn Isḥāq al-Mūsavī Ardabīlī (1252-1334), Sufi saint and ancestor of the Safavid dynasty, unsigned, Ardabil, Iran, dated Jumada II 964H, April 1557.
Materyal	Paper (material), Ink (material)
Nesne Adı	Codex
Müstensih ve Üretim Yeri	Unknown, Ardabil
Yazı Tipi	Nasta'liq script

View in source Chester Beatty Chester Beatty - Ottoman library catalog search

Chester Beatty

Quintessence of Purity (Ṣafvat al-ṣafā’), by Ibn Bazzāz Ardabīlī (d. 1371)

Publication Date 1557 (964H)

Type Document

Language Persian

Digital Yes

Manuscript Yes

Physical Dimensions 230 mm x 169 mm x 50 mm (height x width x depth)

Library Chester Beatty

Record ID Per 344

Library Location Persian collection

Date 1557 (964H)

Notes Quintessence of Purity (Ṣafvat al-ṣafā’), by Ibn Bazzāz Ardabīlī (d. 1371). The Safavid shahs were direct descendants of the saintly Shaykh Ṣafī al-Dīn (died 1334), whose holy tomb at Ardabil for centuries attracted pilgrims, Sufi followers, and shrine patronage. This manuscript is Shaykh Ṣafī's biography, and describes his pious life, sayings and miracles, as well as his family history. Under Shah Ṭahmāsp (r. 1524-1576), a re-worked official version underlined the Ardabil saint’s ancestry, linking his family tree directly back to the Seventh Imam, Mūsā al-Kāẓim (died 799). By extension, this information also transformed the sacred identity of the Safavid shahs themselves, confirming their holy status as sayyids, descended from the Prophet Muḥammad. Codex, ink on paper, 380 folios, Persian text in black nasta`liq script, with red rubrics, Quintessence of Purity (Ṣafvat al-ṣafā’), composed c. 1358 by Tavakkulī ibn Ismā`īl ibn Bazzāz Ardabīlī (d. 1371), biography of Shaykh Ṣafī al-Dīn Isḥāq al-Mūsavī Ardabīlī (1252-1334), Sufi saint and ancestor of the Safavid dynasty, unsigned, Ardabil, Iran, dated Jumada II 964H, April 1557.

Materyal Paper (material), Ink (material)

Nesne Adı Codex

Müstensih ve Üretim Yeri Unknown, Ardabil

Yazı Tipi Nasta'liq script