The Explanation of Codicology and Methodology of Different Versions in form and Content, Special Example: Evaluation of Ibn Sina's Risāla fī al-‘ishq

In this article, by formal and content examination of the differences between the manuscripts of Avicenna’s Risāla fī al-‘ishq (Treatise on love), a method for a valid editing of this treatise was obtained. The objective of the research is to recognize the original manuscript(s) that will be the basis for future editing. This is achieved by explaining the differences in the words of the manuscripts with the old translation of the treatise and the differences in the form and content of the words of the manuscripts with each other and presenting a diagram of the manuscripts’ family.

Research Method/Approach: 

This research is descriptive-analytical in such a way that, A. The antiquity of the manuscripts and their availability was the most important principle for previous editings, but in cases of vocabulary differences, in addition to the antiquity, the content and philosophical understanding of the words should be taken into consideration; this principle is based on the terminology of Avicenna’s works. B. The first two paragraphs of all the existing manuscripts are to be compared with each other and their differences clarified. C. Among all the conflicting words, some words should be included based on their content impact on the meaning of the text. D. In case of differences in the words in the original manuscript(s), the words that are compatible with the old translation of this treatise should be taken into consideration.

The findings based on the comparison of the two initial paragraphs of the manuscripts determined the type of connection between the manuscripts with each other and the manuscripts family; that there are two manuscripts families are recognizable for Risāla fī al-‘ishq, which are the basis of the writing of the oldest extant manuscript, i.e., Universite Library Manuscript No. 4711/7. The findings of the research showed that the criterion for the new editing of the Malik library manuscript No. 4641/3 is that which is copied from the original manuscript and for the accurate understanding of the text, it is necessary to use the other five manuscripts and the margins of the text of the manuscripts in the new editing. The superiority and validity of the Malik library manuscript compared to the other five versions is A. due to being of the same family as the original copy and B. using a variant manuscript and writing down the differences in the margins of the manuscript. These features are available in the Universite and Zahiriyya Library manuscripts too, but in the Universite Library manuscript, many sentences have been omitted due to scribal errors, and the Zahiriyya Library manuscript is also physically damaged and many of its words are illegible. Three other manuscripts - Hagia Sophia, Asad Effendi and Majlis - were also selected in order to present all the differences from the variant manuscript.