Author
Muḥammad Rashīd al-Dīn
Publication Date
late 18th century-early 19th century (CE, Gregorian)
Publication Place
India -
Subject
1
Type
Book
Language
Arabic
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
Yes
Pages Count
1
Physical Dimensions
225 x 160 mm
Library
Qatar Digital Library
Library Asset ID
Delhi Arabic 1930
Record ID
vdc_100030672004.0x000001
Library Location
British Library: Oriental Manuscripts
Date
late 18th century-early 19th century (CE, Gregorian)
Notes
Commentary by Muḥammad Rashīd al-Dīn (محمد رشيد الدين) on the
Tashrīḥ al-aflāk
(Anatomy of the spheres,
Anatomy of the Spheres
), a summary of theoretical astronomy (هيئة) by Bahā’ al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Ḥusayn al-‘Āmilī (بهاء الدين محمد بن حسين العاملي, d. 1621) in which it is argued that the earth rotates around its axis.
The various inscriptions on the title page (f. 1r) give the author's name as Rashīd al-Dīn Khān (رشيد الدين خان) and the title as
Sharḥ Tashrīḥ al-aflāk
(Explanation of the anatomy of the spheres,
Commentary on the Anatomy of the Spheres
). This suggests that the author may be the Indian faqīh and ḥadīth transmitter Muḥammad Rashīd al-Dīn Khān al-Dihlawī (محمد رشيد الدين خان الدهلوي, d. 1827). The author's preface, however, gives his name simply as Muḥammad Rashīd al-Dīn (محمد رشيد الدين, f. 1v, line 8), and the title of the work as
Sharḥ mūjaz li-Kitāb tashrīḥ al-aflāk
(شرح موجز لكتاب تشريح الأفلاك,
Concise Commentary on the Book of the Anatomy of the Spheres
, f. 1v, line 9).
The text is divided into an introduction and five chapters (
fuṣūl
):
[Introduction] (ff. 1v-10r)
Chapter One: Great and Small Circles (الفصل الأول في الدوائر العظام والصغار; ff. 10v-21r);
Chapter Two: Diagrams of the Seven Spheres (الفصل الثاني في صور الأفلاك السبع; ff. 21r-23r);
Chapter Three: Explanation of their rates of movement, its direction, what similarity and difference pertains to them (الفصل الثالث في بيان قدر الحركات وجهتها وما يتبعها من شابهها واختلافها; ff. 23v-30v);
Chapter Four: Regarding the earth and the different placements of its places (?) (الفصل الرابع فيما يتعلق بالأرض واختلاف أوضاع بقاعها [؟]; ff. 31r-39r);
Chapter Five: Dawn and Dusk (الفصل الخامس في الصبح والشفق; ff. 39v-).
The text is lacking diagrams although some spaces have been left blank for them, sometimes with the accompanying words 'and here is the diagram' (وهذه صورة, e.g. f. 46r).
Begins (f. 1v, lines 2-4):
الحمد لمن رفع بناء السبع الشداد من غير معين وظهير وزينها بالمصابيع
والسراج المنير والصلوة والسلام على النير الأعظم الذي طلع من غبراء
وارتفع إلى الخضراء وملأ الملاء الأعلى لسنا الثناء والدعاء ونور الدنيا
Ends (f. 50v, lines 10-14):
ولم يتنبه له طوارق الحدثان الطوارق الحوادث الأتية ليلًا
جمع طارق وهو الذي يأتي ليلًا والحدثان بفتح الحاء
والدال إن لم يتنبه له الحوادث الأتية
في النهار والليل وإلا لم يغير مثل هذا التصنيف
Colophon
Section at the end of a manuscript text.
(f. 50v, lines 12-14):
...and thank God
رب العالمين على التوفيق لتأليف مثل هذا الكتاب
المفقح المتبين الذي كا دان (؟) نسخته أراء جميع الناظرين
Erişim Koşulları
Unrestricted
Edinme Kaynağı
Purchased by the Government of India at sale organised by Delhi Prize Agents, 1859; administrative deposit
India Office
The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors.
Library, 1876
Köken
The Government of India, its seal with central legend 'Delhi MSS' (ff. 1r and 50v)
Seçilmiş kaynakça
Studies:
‘Abbās, Dalāl, Bahā’ al-Dīn al-‘Āmilī : adīban, wa-faqīhan, wa-‘āliman (Bayrūt: Dār al-Ḥiwār, 1995)
Hashemipour, Behnaz, '‘Āmilī: Bahāʾ al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Ḥusayn al-‘Āmilī', in The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers, ed. by Thomas Hockey et al. (New York: Springer, 2007) pp. 42-3
