This remarkable twelfth-century 紮喝娶a紳ic commentary by Mu廎仟mmad b. 尪Abd al-Kar蘋m al-Shahrastn蘋 is preserved in a single manuscript in Tehran and marks the achievement of a lifelong, arduous quest for knowledge. The introduction and opening chapter of this virtually unknown work are presented here in a bilingual edition with an introduction and contextual notes by Dr Toby Mayer. In Keys to the Arcana, Shahrastn蘋 breaks down the text of the 紮喝娶a紳Muslims believe that the Holy 紮喝娶a紳 contains divine revelations to the Prophet Muhammed received in Mecca and Medina over a period of 23 years in the early 7th century CE. More and analyses it from a linguistic point of view, with reference to the history of 紮喝娶a紳ic interpretation. The authors aim is to use an elaborate set of complementary concepts the keys of the works title to unearth the esoteric meanings of the 紮喝娶a紳ic verses. Dr Mayers meticulous translation of Shahrastn蘋s Introduction and Commentary on S贖rat al-Fti廎仟, supplemented by the Arabic text, allows access to this unique work for the first time.
Foreword by Professor Hermann Landolt
Preface
I. Translators Introduction
II. Keys to the Arcana and Lanterns of the Godly
Shahrastn蘋s preface
Shahrastn蘋s introduction to his hermeneutical method (Maft蘋廎 al-Furqn)
The exegesis of the Exordium (Tafs蘋r S贖rat al-Fti廎仟)
Bibliography
Index of 紮喝娶a紳ic Citations
General Index
Index
III Arabic Text of the Maft蘋廎 al-asrr wa ma廜b蘋廎 al-abrr
an important text … Mayers translation itself is fluid yet precise … there is little doubt that the book will be of interest to a variety of readers
Erik S. Ohlander, Journal of 紮喝娶a紳ic Studies
This volume is a valuable contribution that presents a major Islamic thinker in new light, on the basis of a sound translation of one of his most important writings.
Carl W. Ernst, Journal of Shia Islamic Studies
Toby Mayer is a Senior Research Associate in the 紮喝娶a紳ic Studies Unit at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. He previously taught courses on Sufism and Islamic philosophy at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. He gained his DPhil from the University of Oxford in 2002; his dissertation was entitled On Existence and its Causes: The Fourth 捧硃鳥硃廜 of Avicennas 梆莽堯櫻娶櫻喧 and its Main Commentaries. In addition to Keys to the Arcana: Shahrastn蘋s Esoteric Commentary on the 紮喝娶a紳 (Oxford, 2009), he has published chapters and articles on philosophical debates related to the thought of Ibn S蘋n, on Muslim mysticism and scriptural hermeneutics, and two critical editions and translations with Wilferd Madelung: Shahrastn蘋s Kitb al-Mu廜ra尪a, entitled Struggling with the Philosopher: A Refutation of Avicennas Metaphysics (London, 2001) and 尪Al蘋 b. Mu廎仟mmad al-Wal蘋ds al-Risla al-muf蘋da entitled Avicennas Allegory on the Soul: An Ismaili Interpretation (London, 2016). He is currently preparing an analysis and translation of Shahrastn蘋s exegesis of S贖rat al-Baqara, which will form the second volume of Keys to the Arcana.