[ANONYMOUS ARABIC GUIDE TO HAREMEYN THROUGH THE EYES OF A NAQSHBANDI SCHOLAR] Kitab al-Haj [i.e., Book of Hajj].

ANONYMOUS, Manuscript, [possibly Istanbul], n.d. [circa AH 1204-1236 = 1790-1820].

Original Arabic naskh manuscript (with some passages in Ottoman Turkish) in black ink on polished 19^th century Italian “Andrea Galvani” paper (known as the Warraq Abû Subbah in the Islamic world), with eagle watermark. Large roy. 8vo. (25 x 17,5 cm). In Arabic with some passages in Ottoman script. 21 lines on each page with sporadic period and later marginalia. 100 pp. [50 lf], underlined important words and phrases. The last date in the text is AH 1204, the ownership date is AH 1236 [1819/20] on pastedown. The ex-owner’s name is El-Hac Selim b. El-Hac Mustafa Efendi. It’s indicated as “Cild-i Evvel” [i.e., The first volume], however, we couldn’t come across another volume in the literature.

In contemporary 1/5 dark brown leather bdg. Marbled boards with a blank white label on the front. Some wear on the spine, chippings on the boards’ extremities, some pages are loosely inserted, and the last four pages except for the last one, are inserted reversely. Otherwise, a very good and clean manuscript.

Will be sent with its late produced “rahle” [i.e., Islamic wooden book stand] possibly in the late 19^th century, or early 20^th century.

Uncommon Arabic manuscript guide to Haremeyn and a complete pilgrimage account written anonymously by a Naqshbandi scholar and pilgrim. Focusing on the rules of the Islamic Hajj based on Naqshbandi teachings, the manuscript includes selected Hajj journeys from old narrations, along with the safe routes to the Hajj and descriptions of Mecca, Medina, the Kaaba, and Arafat.

The book contains around ten chapters, including topics such as the Qur’an and Abstinence, Crimes, Seasons, Miqat (the state of consecration in which certain activities are prohibited), Hajj on behalf of others, Guidance, Prayers, Travel, and more. Throughout the text, key Hajj locations such as Mecca, Medina, Arafat, and Masjid al-Haram are described, along with the responsibilities of pilgrims. Frequent quotations from the Hadith literature and the Qur'an are provided, particularly regarding the roads and vehicles used during the journey. The book also includes examples from well-known Hajj journeys up until the time it was written. For instance, while crossing the Euphrates and Tigris rivers is considered obligatory in some traditions, sea travel is permissible if it is deemed safe.

The final chapter includes narratives and traditions from Islamic scholars and pilgrims, such as Kemal Pasha and Ya'kûb b. Seyyid Alî el-Bursevî known as Sayyid Alizâde (d. AH 931/1524).

Provenance: The book bears “temellük” (ownership) inscriptions of El-Hac Selim b. El-Hac Mustafa Efendi dated AH 1236 (1819/20) and it comes from a special collection in Urfa City.