Nomination form International Memory of the World Register Mathnawi-e-Mowlawi 2014 - 58 1.0 Summary (max 200 words) Mathnawi, as the magnum opus of Persian mystic literature, has been composed by Jalalludin Muhammad Balkhi - also known as Mowlana Rumi or Mowlawi - between years 660 to 666 AH (1261-1267 CE). Within the Six books that comprise this work, Mowlana recounts the passion of enlighten as a spark of fire caught by a reed. It burns away the essence of the Follower of the Way and points him toward recognition of absolute truth. In fact Mathnawi is the apex and culmination of mysticism. In Mathnawi, Mowlana symbolically expresses the basic issues of mysticism and Sufism, starting from the basics up to the Final Enlightenment of the Mystic. He uses the teachings of the holy canon, Quranic Verses, Holy narrations and tradition of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the ideas of past mystics. For each mystic subject, he refers to a fable or an allegory and notes the social and moral protocols sought by the Sufic elders. Mathnawi has been translated into Turkish, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic, German, English, Bengali, Hungarian, Russian, Pashtu, Swedish, Sindi, Dutch, Kashmiri, Norse, Italian, Czech, French and polish. The present nomina tio n introduces seven outstanding manuscripts of Mathnawi. 2.0 Nominator 2.1 Name of nominator (person or organization) National Library and Archives of the Islamic Republic of Iran 2.2 Relationship to the nominated documentary heritage In 2012, The National Library and Archives of the Islamic Republic of Iran submitted a proposal to the national committee for the Memory of the World, to set in motion the process for recognition of Mowlawi’s Mathnawi. Following an exhaustive search for the best manuscripts held in libraries in Iran and the rest of the world, seven outstanding manuscripts were chosen which are presented in this file. 1 2.3 Contact person(s) (to provide information on nomination) Ms. Fariba Farzam 2.4 Contact details Name: Ms. Fariba Farzam Address: National Library and Archives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Haqqani Expressway, Teheran, Iran Tel: +982188644086 Fax: +982188644072 Email: [email protected] 3.0 Identity and description of the documentary heritage 3.1 Name and identification details of the items being nominated If inscribed, the exact title and institution(s) to appear on the certificate should be given. Title : Mathnawi-e-Mowlawi Description: Mowlawi composed this mystic work from 660 to 666 after Hijra in six books. Numerous manuscripts are held in Iranian libraries and around the world. Of these, the following seven outstanding copies were selected and nominated: 1. Mowlana Museum in Konya: The manuscript is 32.2 by 49.7 centimetres; there are 29 lines per page calligraphed by Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al Konavi. It was inscribed in 667 AH (1278 CE). The Frontispiece displays an exquisite illumination, tabulation as well as margins adorned with illuminated bergamot. 2. Malek National Library and Museum: This manuscript is 36.2 by 18.5 centimetres, has 365 pages. There are 21 lines per page inscribed in Nastaliq by Abdul Qadir ibn Muhammad Badr Astarabadi between 808 and 809 AH (1406 CE). The paper texture corresponds to termeh . The initial pages and chapters are illuminated. The cover is cherry-coloured ewe leather embossed with floral design. 3. National Library and Archives of the IR of Iran: This copy has 343 pages and is 17.5 by 25.5 centimetres. There are 21 lines per page inscribed in Naskh-e-Khosh style by Hassan Al-Qari in 840 AH (1436 CE). The paper 2 texture type is known as Dowlat Abadi. Its cover is moss green goatskin decorated with gold and color floral design. The first four pages and chapters are illuminated and decorated. 4. Astan Quds Razavi Libraries, Museums and Archives Organization: This copy is 17 by 26.5 centimetres, has 307 pages, with 23 lines to a page, inscribed in Nastaliq style in 848 AH (1444 CE). The Frontispiece and chapters are illuminated and decorated. 5. Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) Library, Museum and Archives: Inscribed in Nastaliq style in 877 AH (1472 CE). 6. Golestan Palace Collection: This copy is 32.5 by 21 centimetres, contains 718 pages. Each page has 21 lines inscribed in Nastaliq style by Muhammad Hassan Shirazi in 1279 AH (1862 CE). The first two leafs of each volume and the beginning of the text contains highly illuminated margins and header. At the top of the first two pages the name of the Qajar king, Nasserudin Shah, along with his titles have been incorporated within the Lion and Sun Motif and floral designs. This pattern has been repeated 142 times. 7. National Library and Archives of the IR of Iran: This manuscript is 18.5 by 28.5 centimetres and contains 158 pages. Each page contains 33 full sentences inscribed in High Naskh style by Muhammad Ismael Vesal known also as Tawhid. This copy was inscribed in 1281 AH (1864 CE) in Shiraz. The paper type is called Ferengi, the cover is lacquered. The first four pages of each volume as well as chapter titles are illuminated. 3.4 History/provenance The origin and date for each of the copies is as follows: 1. Mowlana Museum in Konya: This version has been copied from the one proof read and corrected in presence of Molawna himself. It was later compared and corrected against the original copy with his representative, Hisamudin Chalabi, and Mowlana’s own son, Sultan Valad. The copy came later into the possession of Sahib Atta Fakhrudin, and later changed hands to Jamaludin Mobarak who later dedicated it to the Sufi Priory. 2. Malek National Library and Museum: This copy was presented as a gift by Mahmood Jam, the prime minister under the First Pahlavi King, to Haj Hussein Malek, the founder of the Malek Library and Museum in 1929 CE. 3 3. National Library and Archives of the IR of Iran: This copy was purchased in 1940 CE under Mehdi Bayani’s tenure as the National Library Superintendent. 4. Astan Quds Razavi Libraries, Museums and Archives Organization: Mirza Rezakhan Naeeni dedicated it as an endowment in 1932 CE. 5. Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) Library, Museum and Archives: This copy was purchased sometimes around 1937 and 1941 CE. 6. Golestan Palace Collection: This copy was inscribed for Nasserudin Shah-e Qajar whose reign was from 1847 until 1895 CE. This copy was kept in Golestan Palace Royal library since its inscription. 7. National Library and Archives of the IR of Iran: This copy was inscribed in 1864 CE by Muhammad Ismael known by the pen name Towhid. The book was kept in his family until 1949 when the National Library purchased it from Muhammad Ismael’s grandson, Dr. Norani Vesal. 4.0 Legal information 4.1 Owner of the documentary heritage (name and contact details) The owner of each copy is as follows : 1. Mowlana Museum in Konya: Institution Name: Mowlana Museum in Konya Address: Konya. Turkey 2. Malek National Library and Museum: Institution Name: Malek National Library and Museum Address: Bagh-e Meli, Imam Khomeini, Ave. Tehran, Iran Telephone: +98 21 66726072 Facsimile : +98 21 66795974 3. National Library and Archives of the IR of Iran: Institution Name: National Library and Archives of the Islamic Republic of Iran Address: National Library Blvd., Shahid Haqqani Expressway, Tehran, Iran Postal Code: 15376-14111 Telephone: +98 21 88644086 Facsimile : +98 21 88644072 4. Astan Quds Razavi Libraries, Museums and Archives Organization: Institution Name: Astan Quds Razavi Libraries, Museums and Archives Organization 4 Address: Central Office, Sheikh Toussi Cul-de-Sac, Ali ibn Mussal Reza Holy Shrine, Mashhad, Iran Telephone: +98 511 2215565 Facsimile : +98 511 2220845 5. Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) Library, Museum and Archives : Institution Name: Islamic Consultative Assembly Library, Museum and Archives Address: Majlis Library, Baharestan Square, Tehran, Iran Telephone: +98 21 33137810 Facsimile : +98 21 33137813 6. Golestan Palace Collection: Institution Name: Golestan Palace Collectio n Address: Opposite Arg Mosque, Panzdah Khordad Sq., Tehran, Iran Telephone: +98 21 33912050 Facsimile: +98 21 331111811 7. National Library and Archives of the IR of Iran: Institution Name: National Library and Archives of the Islamic Republic of Iran Address: National Library Blvd., Shahid Haqqani Expressway, Tehran, Iran Postal Code: 15376-14111 Telephone: +98 21 88644086 Facsimile: +98 21 88644072 4.2 Custodian of the documentary heritage (name and contact details if different from the owner) Institution Name: - Address: - Postal Code: - Telephone: - Facsimile: - 4.3 Legal status The administrative and legal responsibility for preservation of each copy falls on their respective owners. 5 4.4 Accessibility Access to each copy is based on the regulations and by-laws of the holding library respectively. 4.5 Copyright status Copyright for each work is owned by the institution holding them. 5.0 Assessment against the selection criteria 5.1 Authenticity The seven copies chosen for this file have exact date of inscription and are all considered being original and authentic. 5.2 World significance Within Persian Literature, the Mystic literature originates with Sana’i, becomes fluid and expansive with Attar and reaches its apex with Mowlana. Mowlana’s status in mystic literature is akin to that of Ferdowsi in epic poetry. His Mathnawi is one of the masterpieces of Persian poetry. Not only it has been studied by literary figures over the past seven centuries, but even common people have read and came to keep it in high regard. In Iranian houses you could usually find a copy of Mathnawi next to the Holy Quran. The dissemination of Mowlana’s manuscripts was confined to Asia Minor region for sometimes. Mowlana’s various biographies and Morals were written by people such as Aflaki and Soltan Valad –Mowlana’s own son- in Asia Minor.