Variance in Arabic Manuscripts: Arabic Didactic Poems from the Eleventh to the Seventeenth Centuries - Analysis of Textual Variance and Its Control in the Manuscripts

by Florian Sobieroj

Overview

In Arabic and Islamic studies, the subject of variance in general and that of textual variation in particular has not been investigated exhaustively so far. In the present book the variation in texts of the “closed transmission” will be studied, focusing on a small corpus of didactic and model poems, with a view to establishing what degree of text stability and change was allowed by the medium manuscript. Categories of variance (relating to work-titles, text, number of verses and their sequence, page-layout, context) and the means of controlling them in the manuscripts of the poems are identified and detailed descriptions of the copies are given.The monograph also includes a presentation of some major traits of the cultural background to the study of Arabic didactic poetry and of its dissemination in which memorization has played a crucial role. The intended readers,editors and other users of manuscripts, are helped to acquaint themselves with the methods employed in the manuscripts to control variation and they are given an overview of the large spectrum of Arabic didactic poetry and of its place in the traditional culture of learning in Islamicate societies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783110460001
Publisher:	De Gruyter
Publication date:	05/24/2016
Series:	Studies in Manuscript Cultures , #5
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	441
Sales rank:	548,989
File size:	38 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Florian Sobieroj, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

1.1 State of the art 1

1.2 Programme of work 5

1.3 Manuscript as a medium 7

1.4 Corpus of manuscripts studied 9

2 Main categories of variance 11

2.1 Work titles 11

2.2 Textual Variance 16

2.3 Variance relating to the number and sequence of verses 24

2.4 Variance in relation to page layout 33

2.5 Variance in relation to context 37

2.6 Variance in dependency of the medium 41

3 Means of stabilization 43

3.1 Deletion 43

3.2 Substitution 43

3.3 Addition 44

3.4 Correction of verse divisions 46

3.5 Vocalization 46

3.6 Glosses 46

3.6.1 Content-related explanations 47

3.6.2 Explanations by synonyms 47

3.7 Syntactical explanatory markers 48

3.8 Signs of reference 48

3.9 Collation 50

3.10 Abbreviations of authorities 50

3.11 Place of insertion of manuscript notes relating to control of text variance 51

3.12 Evaluation 52

4 Cultural background 53

4.1 Didactic Poems and the institutions of learning 53

4.1.1 Elementary education 53

4.1.2 The madrasa 62

4.1.2.1 The classroom situation 65

4.1.2.2 Curriculum 66

4.1.2.3 Didactic poems in some scholars' fahrasa 67

4.1.2.4 Didactic poetry in the Core Curriculum of West Africa and the Southern Sahara 72

4.1.2.5 A case study: Didactic poetry in an Algerian Sufi convent 74

4.2 Orality, scripturality and memorization 78

4.2.1 The oral and the written 79

4.2.1.1 Ijazat 81

4.2.2 Memory and memorization 83

4.2.2.1 2.2.1. Development of memory 83

4.2.2.2 Aids to memorization 85

4.2.2.2.1 Translation of texts into Arabic 85

4.2.2.2.2 Versification 86

4.2.2.3 Ways of increasing strength of memory 89

4.2.2.3.1 Prayer 89

4.2.2.3.2 Religious magic as an aid to memorization 93

4.2.2.4 Motivations for memorizing didactic poems 94

4.2.2.4.1 Realization of perfection in belief 94

4.2.2.4.2 Realization of the ideal of perfection, regarding manners 95

4.2.2.4.3 Entering paradise: the case of the-Shatibiyya 96

4.3 Performative usages of didactic poems 98

4.3.1 Qasidat al-Burda 99

4.3.1.1 Liturgical usage in Muslim Northwest China 101

4.3.1.2 Therapeutic and theological usages 102

4.3.2 Al-Qasida al-Juljulutiyya of Pseudo-'Ali: magical usages 103

5 Corpus of Didactic Poems: Ibn Zurayq, al-Ushi, Ibn al-Wardït, al-Laqani 107

5.1 Ibn Zurayq, al-Qasida al-Andalusiyya 107

5.1.1 Author 107

5.1.2 Al-Qasida al-Andalusiyya 107

5.1.2.1 Work title 108

5.1.2.2 Commentaries 108

5.1.2.3 Manuscripts 108

5.1.2.4 Number of verses 109

5.1.2.5 Variance relating to context: traditions concerning zarf and the circumstances of composition in the introduction 110

5.1.2.6 Edition of Text according to al-Safadi, Wäft l-wafayat 113

5.1.2.7 Description of manuscripts 114

5.1.2.8 Synopsis of verse sequences 123

5.1.2.9 Evaluation 124

5.2 Al-ushi, Qasidat Bad' al-amali 126

5.2.1 Author 126

5.2.2 Qasidat Bad' al-amali 127

5.2.2.1 Commentaries on al-Ushi 130

5.2.2.2 Manuscripts of the text 131

5.2.2.2.1 Dated manuscripts 133

5.2.2.2.2 Number of verses 134

5.2.2.3 Concordance of work titles 134

5.2.2.4 Edition of al-Ushi 135

5.2.2.5 Description of manuscripts 139

5.2.2.5.1 Manuscripts in the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (SBB) - Preussischer Kulturbesitz (PK) 139

5.2.2.5.2 Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen 149

5.2.2.5.3 Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München 150

5.2.2.5.4 Princeton University Library 152

5.2.2.5.5 Süleymaniye Kütüphanesi 158

5.2.2.5.6 Commentaries in some manuscripts of Princeton University Library 169

5.2.2.6 Synopsis of verse sequences 177

5.2.2.7 Apocryphal verses 182

5.3 Ibn at Wardt, at Lamiyya al Wardiyya 184

5.3.1 Author 184

5.3.2 Al-Lämiyya 184

5.3.2.1 Commentaries 185

5.3.2.3 Concordance of work titles 188

5.3.2.4 Edition 189

5.3.2.5 Description of manuscripts 192

5.3.2.5.1 Manuscripts in the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preussischer Kulturbesitz 192

5.3.2.5.2 BSB München 203

5.3.2.5.3 Süleymaniye Kütüphanesi 206

5.3.2.6 Synopsis of verse sequences 209

5.3.2.7 Apocryphal verses 214

5.4 Al-Laqani, Jawharat al-tawhid 216

5.4.1 Author 216

5.4.2 Jawharat al-tawhid 217

5.4.2.1 Commentaries on Jawharat al-tawhid 219

5.4.2.1.1 Commentary of Ahmad al-Jawhari 220

5.4.2.2 Manuscripts 221

5.4.2.3 Concordance of work titles 221

5.4.2.4 Edition of text 222

5.4.2.5 Description of manuscripts 226

5.4.2.5.1 Mss. in the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preussischer Kulturbesitz 226

5.4.2.5.2 Süleymaniye Kütüphanesi 233

5.4.2.6 Synopsis of verse sequences 235

5.4.2.7 Apocryphal verses 236

5.5 Al-Sanusi, al-'Aqida al-sughra 237

5.5.1 Author 237

5.5.2 Al-'Aqida al-sughra 237

5.5.2.1 Contents, edition and translations 237

5.5.2.2 Commentaries and other derivative works 239

5.5.2.3 The manuscripts 240

5.5.2.3.1 Condition of the manuscripts 240

5.5.2.3.2 Dated manuscripts 240

5.5.2.4 Variance in the manuscripts 240

5.5.2.4.1 Work titles 240

5.5.2.4.2 Page layout 241

5.5.2.5 Edition of the-Sanusiyya 241

5.5.2.6 Description of manuscripts 247

5.5.2.6.1 Manuscripts in the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preussischer Kulturbesitz 247

5.5.2.6.2 Süteymaniye Kütüphanesi 255

5.5.2.7 Evaluation of textual variants 256

6 Appendix I: Survey of didactic poems 259

6.1 Recitation of the Koran 259

6.1.1 Shatibi (Hirz al-amani, Nazimat al-zahr, etc.) 259

6.1.2 Ibn al-Jazari 261

6.1.2.1 Commentaries 262

6.2 Orthography of the Koran: -Shatibi ('Aqilat atrab al-qasa'id) 263

6.3 Dogma of Sunni Islam: -Zawawi, -Ramli 263

6.4 Mysticism: -Bakri, -Dirini 266

6.5 Prayer: -Samman, -Aqfahsi 268

6.6 Jurisprudence: Ibn al-Wardi, -'Imriti, Ibn al-Mutaqqina, Ibn al Ha'im, -Zaqqaq, -Rifa'i, Ibn 'Ashir 270

6.7 Logic: -Akhdari 276

6.8 Disputation: -Kawakibi 278

6.9 Algebra: Ibn al-Ha'im 279

6.10 Medicine: Ibn Sina 279

6.11 Grammar: -Hariri, Ibn Malik, - 'Imriti 281

6.12 Rhetoric: -Akhdari, -Munayyir 286

6.13 Historiography: -Ba 'uni 287

7 Appendix II: Synopses of textual variants 289

7.1 Ibn Zurayq, al-Qasida al-Andalusiyya 289

7.2 -Ushi, Qasidat Bad' al-amali 305

7.3 Ibn al-Wardi, al-Lamiyya al-Wardiyya 323

7.4 -Laqani, Jawharat al-tawhid 352

7.5 -Sanusi, al-'Aqida al-sughra 365

References 395

Indices 403