This remarkable twelfth-century 河顎姻a稼ic commentary by Mu畍ammad b. 平Abd al-Kar朝m al-Shahrastn朝 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朝 breaks down the text of the 河顎姻a稼Muslims believe that the Holy 河顎姻a稼 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 河顎姻a稼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 河顎姻a稼ic verses. Dr Mayers meticulous translation of Shahrastn朝s Introduction and Commentary on S笛rat al-Fti畍a, 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朝s preface
Shahrastn朝s introduction to his hermeneutical method (Maft朝畍 al-Furqn)
The exegesis of the Exordium (Tafs朝r S笛rat al-Fti畍a)
Bibliography
Index of 河顎姻a稼ic Citations
General Index
Index
III Arabic Text of the Maft朝畍 al-asrr wa ma畊Ｄb朝畍 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 河顎姻a稼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 河顎姻a稼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 鰻温馨温畊 of Avicennas 鴛壊鞄偵姻偵岳 and its Main Commentaries. In addition to Keys to the Arcana: Shahrastn朝s Esoteric Commentary on the 河顎姻a稼 (Oxford, 2009), he has published chapters and articles on philosophical debates related to the thought of Ibn S朝n, on Muslim mysticism and scriptural hermeneutics, and two critical editions and translations with Wilferd Madelung: Shahrastn朝s Kitb al-Mu畊Ｄra平a, entitled Struggling with the Philosopher: A Refutation of Avicennas Metaphysics (London, 2001) and 平Al朝 b. Mu畍ammad al-Wal朝ds al-Risla al-muf朝da entitled Avicennas Allegory on the Soul: An Ismaili Interpretation (London, 2016). He is currently preparing an analysis and translation of Shahrastn朝s exegesis of S笛rat al-Baqara, which will form the second volume of Keys to the Arcana.