The book explores the hidden Arabic manuscript culture of the Bohras, a small Shi i Muslim community in South Asia, and how their manuscripts gained new meanings in the new social realities of the Western Indian Ocean. It shows how one khizana was turned into another, preserving, reading, transmitting, venerating, and copying manuscripts into new forms.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 528 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2024
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The book delves into the hidden world of Arabic manuscripts in the pre-modern Muslim world, specifically focusing on the Bohras, a small but vibrant South Asian Shi'i Muslim community. It explores the journey of Arabic manuscripts from the vast imperial book repositories of the medieval Muslim world, the khizanat of the Fatimids of North Africa and Egypt (909CE-1171CE), to the vibrant social life of the Bohras across the Western Indian Ocean, beginning in Yemen and ending in Gujarat. Through strict conditions of secrecy and over several centuries, one khizana (manuscript repository) transformed into another, with its manuscripts acquiring new meanings in the evolving social landscapes. This transformation gave rise to a unique Bohra Ismaili manuscript culture shaped by its local contexts. The book highlights the importance of manuscripts in the Islamic world, not only as repositories of knowledge but also as objects of devotion, veneration, and cultural expression. It sheds light on the intricate relationships between manuscripts, their owners, and the broader social and cultural milieu in which they existed. By examining the history and evolution of the Bohras' manuscript culture, the book contributes to our understanding of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Islamic world.

The Book's Overview

The book tells the story of a manuscript repository found all over the pre-modern Muslim world: the khizanat al-kutub, or treasury of books. The focus is on the undisclosed Arabic manuscript culture of a small but vibrant South Asian Shi'i Muslim community, the Bohras. It looks at how books that were once part of one of the biggest imperial book repositories of the medieval Muslim world, the khizanat of the Fatimids of North Africa and Egypt (909CE-1171CE) ended up having a rich social life among the Bohras across the Western Indian Ocean, starting in Yemen and ending in Gujarat. It shows how, under strict conditions of secrecy, and over several centuries, one khizana was turned into another, its manuscripts gaining new meanings in the new social realities in which they were preserved, read, transmitted, venerated and copied into. What emerged was a new distinctive Bohra Ismaili manuscript culture shaped by its local contexts.

The Book's Significance

The book delves into the hidden world of Arabic manuscripts in the pre-modern Muslim world, specifically focusing on the Bohras, a small but vibrant South Asian Shi'i Muslim community. It explores the journey of Arabic manuscripts from the vast imperial book repositories of the medieval Muslim world, the khizanat of the Fatimids of North Africa and Egypt (909CE-1171CE), to the vibrant social life of the Bohras across the Western Indian Ocean, beginning in Yemen and ending in Gujarat. Through strict conditions of secrecy and over several centuries, one khizana (manuscript repository) transformed into another, with its manuscripts acquiring new meanings in the evolving social landscapes. This transformation gave rise to a unique Bohra Ismaili manuscript culture shaped by its local contexts. The book highlights the importance of manuscripts in the Islamic world, not only as repositories of knowledge but also as objects of devotion, veneration, and cultural expression. It sheds light on the intricate relationships between manuscripts, their owners, and the broader social and cultural milieu in which they existed. By examining the history and evolution of the Bohras' manuscript culture, the book contributes to our understanding of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Islamic world.

The Book's Content

The book begins by tracing the origins of Arabic manuscripts in the pre-modern Muslim world. It discusses the various types of manuscripts, including religious texts, scientific works, literary texts, and historical documents. It also explores the different methods of manuscript production, including handwriting, printing, and copying. The book then focuses on the Bohras' manuscript culture, which emerged in the 10th century CE. The Bohras were a small but influential community that had a strong presence in the Western Indian Ocean region. They were known for their strict adherence to Islamic principles and their dedication to the study of Islam. The book examines how the Bohras acquired their manuscripts, how they preserved them, and how they transmitted them to future generations. It also explores the social and cultural significance of the manuscripts in the Bohras' community. The book highlights the importance of manuscripts in the Islamic world, not only as repositories of knowledge but also as objects of devotion, veneration, and cultural expression. It sheds light on the intricate relationships between manuscripts, their owners, and the broader social and cultural milieu in which they existed. By examining the history and evolution of the Bohras' manuscript culture, the book contributes to our understanding of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Islamic world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and culture of the Islamic world. It provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of the Arabic manuscript culture in the pre-modern Muslim world, with a particular focus on the Bohras' manuscript culture. The book highlights the importance of manuscripts in the Islamic world, not only as repositories of knowledge but also as objects of devotion, veneration, and cultural expression. It sheds light on the intricate relationships between manuscripts, their owners, and the broader social and cultural milieu in which they existed. By examining the history and evolution of the Bohras' manuscript culture, the book contributes to our understanding of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Islamic world.

Weight: 612g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474479578