The Textual Criticism of the Manuscript " Latayef-e Ashrafi fi Bayan-e Tavayef-e Sufi"

Islamic mysticism and Sufism is a fertile tree whose branches have been flourished in the form of valuable writings from the early post-Islamic centuries and they have delighted many people. These great works have constructed the theoretical and practical foundations of mysticism and lit the way of Wayfarers. In spite of paying much attention to the correction and offering of verse and prose mystical works, there are still several works which have not been corrected and published or studied and analyzed as much as they deserve. One of these works is “Latayef Ashrafi fi Bayan-e Tavayef sufi” by a little-known writer named Nezam Qarib Yamani. This book is amongst the books of saints in which the loyal disciples describe the life, states and miracles of their master. As the title of this work shows, it is about the life and miracles of Shiekh Ashrafodin Jahangir Semnani who lit the lamp of guidance in India. This book explores the mystical, religious and ethical basics and principles in sixty anecdotes and in detail. The extent and scope of the issues mentioned in this work are so much that it can be considered amongst the ancient encyclopedias. Some Persian scholars have doubted the authenticity of Ashrafi’s anecdotes but Nazir Ahmad emphasizes the originality of this work and offers some evidence. Focusing on this book and related sources, this paper aims to, first, provide a clear answer about the originality of this work and, then, through a codicological study of this text, offer a comprehensive analysis of it.