COPIED BY MIR 'ALI AL-HARAVI FOR THE LIBRARY OF KHWAJA HABIBULLAH, HERAT, DATED AH 920/1514-15 AD

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ABU ISMA'IL 'ABDULLAH AL-ANSARI AL-HARAWI (D. AH 481/1089-90 AD): MUNAJAT
COPIED BY MIR 'ALI AL-HARAVI FOR THE LIBRARY OF KHWAJA HABIBULLAH, HERAT, DATED AH 920/1514-15 AD
A mystical work in verse, Persian manuscript on gold-speckled paper, 7ff., each with 2ll. of elegant black nasta'liq, text between minor variously coloured borders with gold or silver floral or spiralling motifs, between gold and polychrome rules and laid down on coloured margins with gold floral illumination, opening folio with fine gold and polychrome illuminated headpiece, colophon signed 'Ali al-Katib and stating that it was copied for the library of Khwaja Habibullah in Herat in 920, later numbering in upper left hand corners, in silk-covered card binding with floral silk doublures
Text panel 4 7/8 x 1¾in. (12.4 x 4.5cm.); folio 9 3/8 x 5 3/8in. (23.6 x 13.6cm.)

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Lot Essay

The Munajat of 'Abdullah Ansari is a mystical work written in verse and considered one of the masterpieces of Persian literature.

Khwaja Habibullah Savaji was the Governor of Herat for whom Khwand Mir wrote his famous book the Habib al-Siyar. 'Ali al-Khatib thus probably refers to the famous Mir 'Ali al-Haravi, who worked under the protection of Habibullah whilst Sam Mirza was the Governor of Khorassan. Mir 'Ali was taken to Bukhara by 'Ubaydullah Khan after his capture of Herat in AH 935/1528-29 AD (Mehdi Bayani, Ahval va Asar-e Khosh-Nevisan, Vol. II, Tehran 1346 sh., p. 494).

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