An improvement in approximating the writing date of Jaame -os-settin using textual criticism methods

This study shows that it is possible to correct or improve، by means of textual criticism، the results obtained from less accurate stylistic methods; the result is the introduction of a new method for accuracy of stylistic deductions by assisting textual criticism. The exact date of the writing of Jaame’-os-settin، known also as “the exegesis of Sura Joseph” and written by Abubakr Ahmad ibn Mohammad ibn Zayd al-Tusi، is not known. There has been estimates based on stylistics criteria، and based on stylistic characteristics، it is placed almost at the same time Kashf-ol-Asrar was written، i. e.، the second decade of the 6th century A. H. The author of this article became suspicious of this dating when he found some Arabic verses in the text by some poets living at least 70 years after this estimated date. Therefore، he started reviewing all the verses of poetry in Jaame’-os-settin which belong to a variety of Persian and Arabic poets، in order to find the true author of the verses. Because Tusi has maintained that he، in writing his own book، had used books on the art of preaching، especially those preaching using Joseph’s story، the author of this article concentrated on the preaching texts which contained some of the poetical verses found also in Jaame’-os-settain; this led to more evidence supporting the thesis of the research، and the recognition of the fact that a way to estimate a date would be to consider and compare the variants of the Persian and Arabic verses in different books، especially the Arabic verses which، due to Persians’ lack of fluency in this language، have gone under little evolution. One other fact which helps in pinpointing the date is a migration from Khurasan to Iraq to Azarbayejaan ascribed to Tusi by his biographer، a migration most probably taken as a flight from advancing Mongol armies. This completely corresponds to the date obtained by tracing the poetry verses as mentioned، and gives us an estimated date of the second decade of seventh century A. H، instead of previously held estimate of one century earlier.