Occult medical text by the Egyptian mystic al-Sha'rani

Sha'rani, 'Abd al-Wahhab ibn Ahmad. Mukhtasar tadhkirat al-Suwaydi [The Epitome of Suwaydi's "Memorandum Book"].

€ 25,000.00

An uncommon epitome of a 13th century medical treatise by 'Abd al-Wahhab ibn Ahmad Sha'rani (1492/3-1565), known primarily for his mystical writings. Al-Sha'rani famously founded an Egyptian order of Sufism, Sa'rawiyyah, which remained active until the 19th century, and wrote extensively on religious law and Sufism; his interest in medicine is less well known. This book, which discusses a treatise by the physician Al-Suwaydi (1204-92), is unique among his works as a scientific text, and is important in forming an idea of Al-Sha'rani as a man of numerous intellectual interests, equally able to debate religious law and explain medical recipes and procedures. Indeed, these were not interests at odds with each other: magical remedies are prominent throughout the text. Al-Sha'rani retains some of Al-Suwaydi's stylistic choices as well, most noticeably the organization of the medical recipes by body part to be treated: the work starts with ailments of the head and proceeds down the body to end with the feet.

This specimen was copied on Sunday, the 11th of Safar 1108 AH by the scribe Muhammad Muhyi al-Din Abi al-Anas al-Shafi'i al-Miliji al-Ash'ari al-Sha'rani. Two of the ownership entries are dated 1251 and 1322 H, and annotations and notes at the end with an added index in Maghribi script suggest that it was last owned by a physician in Morocco or elsewhere in North Africa.

Boards somewhat worn, a few minor stains and wormholes. Index has been reinforced. An interesting medical work from a Sufi theologian.