Walters Ms. W.625, Collection of poems (masnavi)Mas̱navī-i maʿnavīمثنوى معنوى<note type="title" xml:id="n219.139122">Title given in colophon in Arabic as al-Mathnawī al-maʿnawī al-Mawlawī (fol. 311a)</note>Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, Maulana, 1207-1273Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Bahāʾ al-Dīn Muḥammad RūmīJalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (d. 672 AH / 1273 CE)جلال الدين محمد بن بهاء الدين محمد رومىAuthor name supplied by catalogerscribeAḥmad ibn Ḥājjī Abī Bakr al-Kātibاحمد بن حاجي ابي بكر الكاتبPrincipal catalogerGacek, AdamCatalogerLandau, AmyCatalogerSmith, SitaEditorBockrath, DianeContributorBarrera, ChristinaContributorEmery, DougContributorHerbert, LynleyContributorNoel, WilliamContributorSimpson, ShreveContributorTabritha, ArielContributorToth, Michael B.ContributorValle, ChiaraConservatorJewell, StephanieConservatorQuandt, AbigailThe Walters Art Museum

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This is an illuminated copy of the collection of poems known as Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī by Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (d. 672 AH / 1273 CE), likely produced in Timurid Iran. The Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī, which is a didactic poetical work divided into six books or booklets (daftars), is of particular importance in the tradition of Sufism. According to the colophon, written in Arabic, this copy was completed in 865 AH / 1461 CE by Aḥmad ibn Ḥājjī Abī Bakr al-Kātib (fol. 311a). Each of the six books is introduced by a preface in Arabic or Persian, executed largely in gold tawqīʿ script (fols. 1b-2a, 51b-52a, 95b-96a, 155b-156a, 203b-204a, and 256b-257a). The text proper is written in black nastaʿlīq script, with illuminated titlepieces inscribed in a decorated New Abbasid (broken cursive) style (fols. 2b, 52b, 96b, 156b, 204b, and 257b). The dark red leather binding is not original to the manuscript and dates to the thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE.BaltimoreThe Walters Art MuseumW.625The primary language in this manuscript is Persian. The secondary language of this manuscript is Arabic.fols. 1b - 311aMas̱navī-i maʿnavīمثنوى معنوى<note type="title" xml:id="n219.139177">Title given in colophon in Arabic as al-Mathnawī al-maʿnawī al-Mawlawī (fol. 311a)</note>بشنو ا زنى چون حكاية ميكند...Text divided into six books, each introduced by a preface in Arabic or Persian executed in gold tawqīʿ script (fols. 1b-2a, 51b-52a, 95b-96a, 155b-156a, 203b-204a, and 256b-257a)scribetamma al-kitābu al-Mathnawī al-maʿnawī al-mawlawī wa-al-ḥamd li-Llāh taʿālá wa-ḥusn tawfīqih /1/ wa-al-ṣal<ā>h wa-al-salām wa-la-taḥīyah wa-al-ikrāmu ʿalá khayr khalqih Muḥammad wa-ālih wa-ṣaḥbih /2/ ajmaʿīn al-ṭayyibīn al-ṭāhirīn wa-sallama taslīman /3/ ʿalá yad aḍʿaf ʿibād Allāh taʿālá /4/ wa-aḥwajihim ilá ʿafwih wa-ghufrānih /5/ Aḥmad ibn Ḥājjī Abī Bakr al-Kātib ʿafā Allāh /6/ ʿanhumā fī ḥijjah [sic] khams wa-sittīn wa-thamānimiʾah /7/ Allahumma ighfir li-ṣāḥibih wa-li-kātibih /8/ wa-li-qāriʾih wa-li-jamīʿ al-muʾminīn /9/ wa-al-muʾmināt /10/ m [=tamma] /11/In Arabic tawqīʿ script giving the title of the work, the scribe's name, and the date of copying

Buff-colored laid paper

Foliation: iii+311+iii24.516.016.010.5

Written obliquely on versos

Framing lines in gold, blue, and blackPolychrome text (black, gold, and blue) written mainly in black nastaʿlīq script but also in gold and blue tawqīʿ script on fols. 1b-2a, 51b-52a, 95b-96a, 155b-156a, 203b-204a, and 256b-257a; inscriptions in the upper panels of fols. 2b-3a, 52b, 96b, 156b, 204b, and 257b written in decorated New Abbasid (broken cursive) styleGold and blue medallion (no inscription) (fol. 1a); double-page illuminated frontispiece with the beginning of the first book in nastaʿlīq script with decorated New Abbasid (broken cursive) style and inscriptions in four compartments (fols. 2b-3a); illuminated prefaces to the six books in gold tawqīʿ script with some words highlighted in blue (fols. 1b-2a, 51b-52a, 95b-96a, 155b-156a, 203b-204a, and 256b-257a); five titlepieces introducing the books with an inscription in decorated New Abbasid (broken cursive) style (fol. 52b: al-mujallad al-thānī min al-Mathnawī; fol. 96b: al-mujallad al-thālith min al-Mathnawī; fol. 156b: al-mujallad al-rābiʿ; fol. 204b: al-mujallad al-khāmis min al-Mathnawī; fol. 257b: al-mujallad al-sādis); floral and foliate decoration in gold (fols. 1a, 51a, 95a, 203a, and 311a)Frontispiece with illuminated medallionFrontispiece; medallionThis page, which opens the book, has an illuminated medallion outlined in blue with radiating blue lines. The medallion is surrounded by illuminated floral decoration.Illuminated preface to the first book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the right side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Arabic, introducing the first book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī). The text is written in gold and blue tawqīʿ script and there is interlinear decoration. The text area is framed by an illuminated border of gilt and polychrome decoration on a blue ground.Illuminated preface to the first book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the left side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Arabic, introducing the first book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī). The text is written in gold and blue tawqīʿ script and there is interlinear decoration. The text area is framed by an illuminated border of gilt and polychrome decoration on a blue ground.Double-page illuminated frontispieceFrontispieceThis is the right side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece with inscriptions in decorated New Abbasid (broken cursive) style of the first book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī).Double-page illuminated frontispieceFrontispieceThis is the left side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece with inscriptions in decorated New Abbasid (broken cursive) style of the first book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī).Finispiece of the first book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)FinispieceThis illuminated page with floral decoration ends the first book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī).Illuminated preface to the second book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the right side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Persian, to the second book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī). The text area is framed by a border of gilt and polychrome decoration on a blue ground. Medallions are in the margins.Illuminated preface to the second book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the left side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Persian, to the second book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī). The text area is framed by a border of gilt and polychrome decoration on a blue ground. Medallions are in the margins.Incipit with illuminated titlepiece introducing the second book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)Incipit; titlepieceThis illuminated titlepiece introduces the second book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī), with the inscription in decorated New Abbasid (broken cursive) style reading: al-mujallad al-thānī min al-Mathnawī.Explicit of the second book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)ExplicitThis is the illuminated final page of the second book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī).Illuminated preface to the third book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the right side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Arabic, to the third book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī). The text is written in gold tawqīʿ script. The text area is framed by a border of gilt and polychrome decoration on a blue ground.Illuminated preface to the third book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the left side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Arabic, to the third book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī). The text is written in gold tawqīʿ script. The text area is framed by a border of gilt and polychrome decoration on a blue ground.Incipit with illuminated titlepiece introducing the third book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)Incipit; titlepieceThis illuminated titlepiece introduces the third book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī).Illuminated preface to the fourth book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the right side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Arabic, to the fourth book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī). The text is written in gold tawqīʿ script. The text area is framed by a border of gilt and polychrome decoration on a blue ground.Illuminated preface to the fourth book of the Collection of poems (masnavi).PrefaceThis is the left side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Arabic, to the fourth book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī). The text is written in gold tawqīʿ script. The text area is framed by a border of gilt and polychrome decoration on a blue ground.Incipit with illuminated titlepeice introducing the fourth book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)Incipit; titlepeiceThis illuminated titlepiece introduces the fourth book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī).Illuminated preface to the fifth book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the right side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Persian, to the fifth book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī). The text is written in gold tawqīʿ script. The text area is framed by a border of gilt and polychrome decoration on a blue ground.Illuminated preface to the fifth book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the left side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Persian, to the fifth book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī). The text is written in gold tawqīʿ script. The text area is framed by a border of gilt and polychrome decoration on a blue ground.Incipit with illuminated titlepiece introducing the fifth book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)Incipt; titlepieceThis illuminated titlepiece introduces the fifth book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī).Illuminated preface to the sixth book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the right side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Persian, to the sixth book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī).Illuminated preface to the sixth book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)PrefaceThis is the left side of a double-page illuminated preface, written in Persian, to the sixth book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī).Incipit with illuminated titlepiece introducing the sixth book of the Collection of poems (masnavi)Incipit; titlepieceThis illuminated titlepiece introduces the sixth book (daftar) of the Collection of poems (Mas̱navī-i maʿnavī).Illuminated colophon to the Collection of poems (masnavi)ColophonAccording to this colophon, written in Arabic, the manuscript was completed in 865 AH / 1461 CE by Aḥmad ibn Ḥājjī Abī Bakr al-Kātib. It reads as follows: tamma al-kitābu al-Mathnawī al-maʿnawī al-mawlawī wa-al-ḥamd li-Llāh taʿālá wa-ḥusn tawfīqih /1/ wa-al-ṣal<ā>h wa-al-salām wa-la-taḥīyah wa-al-ikrāmu ʿalá khayr khalqih Muḥammad wa-ālih wa-ṣaḥbih /2/ ajmaʿīn al-ṭayyibīn al-ṭāhirīn wa-sallama taslīman /3/ ʿalá yad aḍʿaf ʿibād Allāh taʿālá /4/ wa-aḥwajihim ilá ʿafwih wa-ghufrānih /5/ Aḥmad ibn Ḥājjī Abī Bakr al-Kātib ʿafā Allāh /6/ ʿanhumā fī ḥijjah [sic] khams wa-sittīn wa-thamānimiʾah /7/ Allahumma ighfir li-ṣāḥibih wa-li-kātibih /8/ wa-li-qāriʾih wa-li-jamīʿ al-muʾminīn /9/ wa-al-muʾmināt /10/ m [=tamma] /11/

Probably dates to the thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE; dark red leather (with flap); gold-tooled frames and cornerpieces

[Dhū al-]Ḥijjah 865 AH / 1461 CEIranWalters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequestRelevant WorksRichard, Francis. Catalogue des manuscrits persans. (Paris: Bibliothèque nationale, 1989), nos. 265-7, 269.Gacek, Adam. Persian Manuscripts in the Libraries of McGill University: Brief Union Catalogue. (Montreal: McGill University Libraries, 2005), no. 154.ArtMedicineMuseumPoetryScriptMuhammad, the ProphetRomaniaKashmiriHorsesWalters Art MuseumBlockbookDocumentGeneologyAstrologyDevotionHistoryLegalLiterature -- PoetryLiterature -- ProseLiturgyPhilosophyScienceScience -- MedicineScriptureSufismTheologyMineralogyLogicGeographyGeomancyCosmologyCartographyFortune-tellingKoranQur`anFirmanPalimpsestPrayerBibleGospelsPsalterMissalLectionaryBook of HoursAntiphonaryPrayerbookHomilaryProcessionalHorologionBreviaryHymnalChroniclePsalter/HoursMaghrebSub-Saharan (West) AfricaTurkeyAfghanistanCentral Arab Lands (Near East)Central AsiaEgyptEnglandIndiaIranIraqPakistanGermanyFranceAustriaNetherlandsEthiopiaArmeniaFlandersGreeceMamlukMughalOttomanOttonianArmenianByzantineAbbasidQajarRajputChristianArabicAustrianDutchEgyptianFatimidGermanIndianIslamicPersianSafavidTimuridTurkishUmayyadEnglishFrenchFlemishEthiopianCarolingianCalligraphyChartsColophonHeadpieceIlluminationIllustrationMedallionMiniatureOrnamentPainting'Kufic'Early Abbasid scriptRaginiRomanesqueGothicWatermarkTreasure BindingGrotesquesHistoriated initialInhabited initialCarolingian MinusculeGothic Book handWhite-vine letteringEnglish secretaryTexturaBatardaHumanisticUncialAccordion bookAlbumBookCodexManuscriptHeraldrySaint's LifeDrawingGrisailleOriginal BindingBindingNew Abbasid styleLiturgicalDevotionalScripturalTheologicalLegalHistoricalScientificScientific -- MedicalLiterary -- ProseLiterary -- PoetryPhilosophicalAstrologicalSufiEnglishBookCalligraphyCodexColophonIlluminationIllustrationIranIslamicManuscriptPersianWalters Art MuseumSufismNew Abbasid styleLiterature -- PoetryLiterature -- Prose