Hamdard University Library, Jamia Hamdard

Manuscript

The Central Library has about 4000 manuscripts, having great research value. They are mostly in Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages dealing with almost all important areas in the field of Islamic Studies, Medicine and different branches of sciences. Most of these manuscripts are handwritten by the authors. Printed catalogues of manuscripts of different libraries in India are also available for consultation in the section.

Some Important Manuscript

Abstracts of the manuscripts are presented below for further reading.

• Title:............Majma-ul-Bahrain
• Subject:.......Hinduism
• Author:.........Mohammad Dara Shikoh
• Language:.....Persian

Abstract

The manuscript deals with Sufi terminology and equivalent technical terms of Hindu Pantheism. Having ascertained the divergence between the Sufis and Hindu Faqirs, the author Dara Shikoh wrote this manuscript with the purpose of reconciling the two systems of spiritual practices. It was transcribed in Nastaliq by Mohammad Abdul Ghani in the month of Shawwal 1313 AH.

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• Title:............Katha-e-Naas
• Subject:.......Hinduism
• Author:.........Not known
• Language:.....Persian

Abstract

The work is based on the stories of Hindu Rajas of Hastinapoor in ancient India. Date of manuscript and the name of scribe are not known. It is written in Nastaliq Shakasta.

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• Title:............Sharh Al-Quran Al-Mueeni
• Subject:.......Tafseer
• Author:.........Khwaja Khwand Mueenuddin
• Language:.....Persian

Abstract

The author states in the beginning of the work that after seeing a dream he started working on this topic. He was sure that the work will not take less than two years to complete but miraculously, the Sharh was completed in a very short time of six months and it was competed on 27 Muharram 1072 AH. It was written in Naskh.

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• Title:............RISILAH ARISTOTALIS
• Subject:.......Medicine
• Author:.........Aristotle (Aristu)
• Language:.....Persian

Abstract

This treatise contains replies to certain queries on physical and medical sciences which were put to Aristotle. It was translated into Arabic from Greek under the title "MABAAL". The word Mabaal means 'what is required to be known.' It was translated from Arabic to Persian by Asghar Husain Bin Ghulam Ghaus. The name of the Arabic translator is not known.

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• Title:............FAWAID AL-INSAN
• Subject:.......Medicine
• Author:.........Fidai Dawai Lahji
• Language:.....Persian

Abstract

The author of the work was a great scholar during the period of Moghal emperor, Akbar the Great (1542-1605). From the introduction and couplets at the end it appears that it was written at the instance of the emperor himself. The author writes that when he approached the king with a request to suggest a name for his work, the king suggested the name "FAWAID AL INSAN". It deals with medicine and properties of medicinal and other substances. In India only one copy, which is available in Jamia Hamdard.

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