kashf

NEW BOOKS IN REVIEW

IC28

1954

KITABUL KASHF BY JAFAR B.MANSURIL YAMAN.

The two sects in Islam, the Mutazilis and the Ismailis, have tried to reconcile religion with philosophy. The first place, of course, is occupied by the former, owing to the fact that they existed long before the latter though the Ismailis believe that Tawil (the esoteric interpretation of the Quran) is the heritage of Hazart Ali as Tanzil (the exoteric knowledge therefo) is the heritage of the Prophet Muhammad (may God's peace be on him). For instance, "Yadullah" has been interpreted by both of them as the "gift of God" But a special kind of Tawil owned by the Ismailis alone is the secret explanation of some verses of the Qoran. For example, al-fajr, layalin Ashrin, al-Shaf' al-Watr and al-Lyal have been interpreted by Hazrat Muhammad, Hazarat Ali,Hazart Husan, Hazart Hasayn and Hazart Fatima (may God's peace be on them) respectively (see p.56) Such kind of Tawil abounds in the book under review.

This book has been published for the Islamic Research Association by the Oxford University Press in 1952, with an introduction by a German Orientalist R. Strothman, who has taken great pains in its revision by collating different valuable manuscripts.

The great service he has done to Ismaili Literature is that he has deciphered the secret script used therein by its author. This would facilitate the reading of other books also. The book contains 180 pages of ordinary size dealing with the Twail of some verses of the Qoran with regard to the position and rights of Hazart Ali and his posterity. Its author is Jafar B. Mansuril Yaman, who was then the "Babul-abwab" (the highest dignitary) of the fourth Imam of Zuhur, al-Moiz, who reigned in Egypt from 341 to 365 A.H. So, his death may have occurred during the latter half of the fourth century of Hijra.

Kitabul-Kashf is one of the most important books in Ismaili Literature, as it discloses the fundamental doctrine of seven Natiqs (Prophets) from Adam to Muhammad Bin Ismaili Bin Jafar-Ussadiq, the seventh Imam from Hazar Hasan. (See p. 104 and 133 ). Hence the Ismailis are called the "Seveners" The author in his other work "Sarairun-Nautqa" says "We have confined ourselves to six Imams, the seventh being the abrogator of Shariate Zahira (page 95. Ms, which I have in my possession). For the details of this Doctrine see my Tarikhi Fatimiin Misr published by Osmania University in 1948.

It may be remarked that the special kind of Tawil owned by the Ismailis is dogmatic. It contains certain far-fetched ideas, as may be evident from the examples quoted above.

For a detailed study of esoteric works by Ismailis see "The Rise of the Fatimids by W. Ivanow, published for the Islamic Research Association by Oxford University and my book "the Origins of our Ismaili Creed and its system "which is under publication.

ZAHID ALI