“O God, who revealest the most hidden secrets, and givest knowledge of history and traditions! As Thou hast graci-
Rashídu'dDín's prayer ously guided thy servant Rashíd the Physician, who standeth in need of Thine Abundant Mercy, in the composition of these works, which comprise investigations supporting the fundamental dogmas of Islám, and minute researches tending to elucidate philosophical truths and natural laws, profitable to those who meditate on the inventions of Art, and advantageous to such as reflect on the wonders of Creation, even so hast Thou enabled him to consecrate a portion of his estates to pious foundations, on condition that from these revenues should be provided sundry copies of these books, so that the Muslims of all lands and of all times may derive profit therefrom. Accept, O God, all this from him with a favourable acceptance, and cause his efforts to be remembered with thanks, and grant forgiveness for all sins, and pardon all those who shall help to accomplish this good work, and those who shall read or consult these works and put in practice the lessons which they contain. And bestow<graphic>
Colophon of Qur'án transcribed for Úljáytú, Rashídu'd-Dín
and Sa'du'd-Dín in A.H. 710 (A.D. 1310-11)
Or. 4945 (Brit. Mus.), f. Ia
To face p. 78
on him a good recompense, both in this world and the next! Verily Thou art worthy of fear, yet swift to forgive!”
This prayer was also to be inscribed at the end of each copy so completed, and was to be followed by a brief doxology, also formulated by Rashídu'd-Dín, and a colophon penned by the administrator of the bequest, stating at what epoch and for what town each copy had been made, and giving his own name and genealogy, so that he also might be remembered in the prayers of the faithful. Finally the completed copy was to be submitted to the qáḍís, or judges, of Tabríz, who should certify that all the formalities prescribed by the author had been duly carried out; and it was then to be sent to the town for which it was destined, and deposited in a public library where it could be freely used by all students, and even borrowed against a bond for such sum as the librarian might deem suitable. A copy of the Arabic version of the Majmú'a-i-Rashídiyya, together with the Bayánu'l-Ḥaqá'iq and the Kitábu'l-Aḥyá wa'l-Áthár, was also to be made for one of the Professors on the foundation, who was daily to read and expound to the students some portion of the contents. Besides this, each lecturer on the foundation was obliged to make a copy of one of these works, either in Arabic or Persian, during the period occupied by his course of lectures, failing which he was to be dismissed and replaced by one more diligent than himself. The copy, when made, was to be his own, to sell, give away, or keep as he pleased. All facilities were to be accorded to persons desirous of copying any of these works in the library, but they were not allowed to be removed from its walls. In conclusion the successive administrators of the funds were exhorted to carry out zealously and literally the wishes of the benefactor, and curses were invoked on any administrator who should fail to do so.
Yet, as Quatremère observes, * in spite of all these elaborate precautions, “we have lost the greater part of the works of this learned historian, and all the measures which he took have not had a more fortunate success than the precautions devised by the Emperor Tacitus to secure the preservation of his illustrious relative's writings. The action of time and the vandalism of man, those two scourges which have robbed us of so many masterpieces of antiquity, have also destroyed numerous other productions, less brilliant without doubt, but not less useful; and while worthless compilations are spread abroad in all directions and load the shelves of our libraries, we are left to lament bitterly a number of important works, of which the loss is irreparable.”
Of one such work, however, not apparently known to
Quatremère, I am the fortunate possessor. This is a col-
A MS. collection
of Rashídu'dDín's letters
lection of Rashídu'd-Dín's letters, mostly on
political and financial matters, addressed to
his sons and others who held various offices
under the Mongol government, and collected, arranged and
edited by his secretary Muḥammad of Abarqúh. For two
manuscripts of this work, one old, the other a modern copy
of the first, made, apparently, for Prince Bahman Mírzá
Bahá'u'd-Dawla, I am indebted to the generosity of my
friend Mr G. le Strange, who obtained them from the late
Sir Albert Houtum-Schindler.
*
A third manuscript volume,
in English, is entitled in Mr le Strange's hand: Summary
of the Contents of the Persian MS. Despatches of Rashídu'd-
1. Preface of the editor Muḥammad of Abarqúh, defective at beginning.
2. Letter from Rashídu'd-Dín to Majdu'd-Dín Isma'íl Fálí.
3. Answer to the above.
4. From Rashídu'd-Dín to his son Amír 'Alí, Governor of 'Iráq-i-'Arab, ordering him to punish the people of Baṣra for rebellious conduct.
5. From the same to his son Amír Maḥmúd, Governor of Kirmán, reprimanding him for oppressing the people of Bam.
6. From the same to his servant Sunqur Báwarchí, Governor of Baṣra, instructing him as to the policy he should pursue.
7. From the same to his sister's son Khwája Ma'rúf, Governor of 'Ána, Ḥadítha, Hít, Jibba, Ná'úsa, 'Ashára (?), Raḥba, Shafáthá (?) and Baladu'l-'Ayn, appointing him Governor of Rúm. Written from Sulṭániyya in 690/1291 (or possibly 696/1296-7).
8. From the same to the Ná'ibs of Káshán concerning
the pension of 2000 dínárs assigned to Sayyid Afḍalu'd-
9. From the same to his son Amír Maḥmúd (see No. 5 supra) ordering the distribution of food to the poor of Bam, Khabíṣ, etc.
10. From the same to his son Khwája Sa'du'd-Dín, Governor of Antioch, Tarsus, Sús, Qinnasrín, the 'Awáṣim and the shores of the Euphrates, giving him fatherly advice as to the methods of administration he should adopt, and warning him against sloth, wine-drinking, and over-fondness for music and dissipation.
11. From the same to his son 'Abdu'l-Mú'min, Governor
of Simnán, Dámghán and Khwár, ordering him to appoint
the Qáḍí Shamsu'ḍ-Dín Muḥammad b. Ḥasan b. Muḥam-
12. From the same to Shaykh Ṣadru'd-Dín b. Shaykh Bahá'u'd-Dín Zakariyyá condoling with him on the death of a son.
13. From the same to Mawláná Ṣadru'd-Dín Muḥam-
14. Proclamation from the same to his son Amír 'Alí,
Governor of Baghdád, and to the people of that city, small
and great, concerning the appointment of Shaykh Majdu'd-
15. From the same to Amír Nuṣratu'd-Dín Sitáy, Governor of Mawṣil, and Sinjár, concerning Sharafu'd-Dín Ḥasan Mustawfí.
16. Answers from the same to philosophical and religious questions propounded by Mawláná Ṣadr-i-Jahán of Bukhárá.
17. Letter from the same to his son Khwája Jalál, asking for 40 young men and maidens of Rúm to be sent to him at Tabríz to form the nucleus of a population for one of the five villages he has included in his park in the Rab'-i-Rashídí.
18. From the same to Khwája 'Alá'u'd-Dín Hindú requesting him to obtain and send various medicinal oils for the hospital in the Rab'-i-Rashídí.
19. From the same to his son Amír 'Alí, Governor of Baghdád, concerning allowances and presents to various theologians.
20. From the same to his son Khwája 'Abdu'l-Laṭíf, Governor of Iṣfahán, giving him good advice.
21. From the same to his son Khwája Jalálu'd-Dín, Governor of Rúm, also giving good advice, and ordering various quantities of different herbs and drugs for his hospital at Tabríz.