Al-Jili's commentary on the Bismillah

Gilani, Abdul-Karim bin Ibrahim al-. Kitab al-Kahf wal-raqim fi sharh Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim [A commentary on the Bismillah].

€ 3,500.00

A two-part commentary of the all-important Bismallah, the phrase which appears before each sura in the Qu'ran, by the well-known Sufi poet and mystic Abd al-Karim al-Jili (1365-1424/28 CE). Al-Jili was made famous by his work Universal Man, in which he expounded on the philosophical teachings of 13th century Sufi scholar Ibn Arabi (1165-1240 CE) and discussed the nature of reality, the self, and human perfection. Beyond Universal Man, al-Jili wrote widely on matters religious and philosophical, including commentaries like this one, which were important in solidifying his standing as a well-respected religious scholar of the Muslim world.

This particular manuscript was copied by the scribe Abdul-Rahman al-Masiri in the Ottoman Empire, probably Ottoman Palestine, in a handsome, clear naskhi script.

Binding professionally renewed. Provenance: private UK collection (now deceased).