Comparison of the Manuscripts and Lithographs of Manqūl al-Riḍā

Manqūl al-Riḍā, a book by Muhammad Reza Jadid al-Islam (1185-1266 AH/1771-1849 AD), is one of the refutations written against the Jews during the Qajar period. It is said that this book was originally written in Hebrew during the reign of Fatḥ ‘Alī Shāh and then translated into Persian during the reign of Nāsir al-Dīn Shāh. It was first thought that there was only a lithograph of this book, but after searching it turned out that other manuscripts were also available in libraries. In this research, the manuscripts of Malek, Melli, Majles, Ayatollah Marashi libraries and the lithographic copy of the book are introduced, examined and compared.The aim of this study is to introduce the features of different manuscripts of Manqūl al-Riḍā and to explain their differences. This article seeks to answer the questions concerning the features and differences of the manuscripts; the cause of these differences; and the way these manuscripts are introduced in the manuscripts catalog. 

Research Method/Approach:

 It is a descriptive-analytical method that, based on the library method and study of manuscripts, compares the manuscripts available in libraries and examines their differences and similarities in general.

A comparison of the existing manuscripts and lithographs of the book specified that three people introduced themselves as the translators of the book from the Hebrew text, 1. Murakkab, the text that has been obtained from him is very incomplete, so, no judgment can be made on it. 2. Muhammad Ali Kāshānī (known as Mullā Āqājānī), who in the manuscript of Malek, has called himself the translator of the book into Persian as well as the calligrapher of the Hebrew texts. He has probably translated the book after Murakkab. It seems that the translation of Melli and Majles manuscripts is also by Kāshānī. 3. ‘Ali b. Huseyn Huseynī Tehrānī, who wrote it in lithography by the name Iqāma al-Shuhūd fī Radd al-Yahūd, and has translated the book from Hebrew with the help of the author’s (Muhammad Reza Jadid al-Islam) nephew Muhammad Ja‘far. The calligrapher of the Hebrew text of lithography is Muhammad Ali Kāshānī. This book was lithographed four years after the manuscripts. There are differences between the manuscripts and lithographs of Manqūl al-Riḍā due to the manipulation of the translators and scribers who added some contents from the book of Radd al-Yahūd and the glad tidings of the Gospel about the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). Secondly, the cataloguers have not given a proper introduction to these manuscripts and have usually provided lithographic descriptions for them.