English: Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn 'Ali al-Jilani (d. AH 912/1505 AD): Sharh-e gulshan-e-raz

Qajar Persia, AH 2 Rajab 1299/20 May 1882 AD

On Sufism, Persian manuscript on cream paper, 265ff. with 19ll. of black nasta'liq, titles in red or blue, text outlined with gold, opening bifolio with text within gold clouds amnd fine gold illuminated heading, final folio with colophon stating that the manuscript was commissioned by Mirza Abu'l Qasim Khan Nasir al-Mulk and copied by Fazlullah Sharif ibn Mirza Muhammad Yusuf mudhahib (illuminator) and dated Rajab 1299, generally clean condition, some folios loose, in original gold lacquer binding with portait medallions of the family within oval cvartouches surrounded by grape vine, outer band of nasta'liq inscription within cartouches, doublures also with portaits of the family on black ground, slight crazing to lacquer Folio 11.5/8 x 7¼in. (29.5 x 18.5cm.); text 7¾ x 4¼in. (19.7 x 10.7cm.)

This is a commentary on the Persian classical work Gulshan-e-raz by Mahmud ibn 'Abd al-Karim ibn Yahya al-Shabistari (d. AH 720/1320 AD) in which the secrets of Sufism are unfolded and Sufi terminology is explained. The poems on the cover also give information that it was completed for Nasir al-Mulk and the last verse gives the date in abjad.

Fazlullah al-Sharif was from a family of calligraphers and illuminators, and the son of Mirza Yusuf the mudhahhib-bashi (Chief illuminator). According to Fursat Shirazi, Fazlullah died when young in 1310/1892-3 in Shiraz. The only recorded work by him are a copy of a work by Jami dated 1305/1886-7 and a lithograph copy of Sa'di's Kulliyat. For his father and brothers see Karimzadeh, vol.3, pp. 1429-30.

nasir al-Mulk was Superintendant of the HSrine of Imam Reza at Mashhaed adn eas appiointed steward and deputy to Salar al-Dawla, son of Muzaffar al-Din Shah in 1321/1903-4.