Persian Manuscripts

' Zakhirai Khawarizm Shahi' is an earliest treatise on medicine among the Persian manuscripts of the library. It was scribed by Zainuddin Ibrahim Gurgani (d. 531 A.H.)

Another one is Tafsir-i-Tabari translated from Arabic by Abdul Baqi and scribed by Mirza Muhammad bin Mujtahid, is datable to 12th century A.D. It bears the autographs of Shah Abbas of Iran and Qasim Beg Khan dated 1031 A.H.(1621-22 A.D.). The earliest illustrated Persian work on history of Mongol tribes entitled 'Jamiul-Tawarikh' by Rashidud-Din Fazlullah, includes rare miniatures depicting various aspects of political, social, and religious life of the Mongols. The paintings indicate inspiration of the Chinese and Central Asian early paintings which had influenced the Herat School of Persia.

The library has the Khamsa of Nizami Ganjavi (d.1203 A.D.) illustrated in 949 A.H.(1542-43 A.D.) It represents the Iranian style and is beautifully painted against floral background.
Mention may also be made of the Khamsa of Abdur Rahman Jami scribed in A.H. 977 (1569-70 A.D.) by Muhammad bin Alauddin. Also Haft Aurang of Jam i dated A.H.1038 (1628 A.D.) was bound with other masnavis scribed by Jamaluddin Katib Shirazi.
The manuscript of the Diwan-i-Jami scribed in A.H.979 (1571 A.D.) bears a beautiful seal of Hamida Bano Begum, daughter of Ali Akbar, mother of emperor Akbar and that of Nazar Ara, daughter of Shah Jahan, on the colophon. It is interesting to note that Nazar Ara Begum, daughter of Shahjahan whose seal appears on colophon does not appear to be mentioned in the contemporary Persian literature.

The famous fable of Indian origin namely Kalila wa Dimna translated by Abul Maali Nasrullah bin Muhammad Gaznavi seems to be illustrated and scribed in the mid sixteenth century A.D. The miniatures depict landscapes, flora and fauna in notable colour schemes.

Emperor Akbar took great interest in paintings particularly in book illustration following the Mongol and Timurid and Indian traditions. He commissioned several artists both Indian and Persian to illustrate various subjects besides illustrating the books translated from Sanskrit into Persian for developing better understanding among different communities. 


The Rampur Raza Library has the distinction to posses one hundred and fifty illustrated manuscripts of great literary and artistic value. These illustrations provide deep insight into the contemporary life style, art, architecture, customs, ornaments besides topographical details, flora, fauna and traditional musical instruments etc.

Diwan-i-Hafiz is a rare and valuable illustrated manuscript among the collections of the library. It was scribed in Akbar's eventful reign around 1575-80 A.D. and was illustrated by the celebrated court painters. The manuscript written in elegant Nastaliq script and bears eleven miniatures, representing (1) The emperor listening from the Diwan-i-Hafiz painted by Kanha (2) Darvishes dancing in the Khanqah overpowered by the ecstasy of devotional music (3) A young prince in rocky valley painted by Sanwala, a nobelman listening to musician in the garden painted by Farrukh Chela (4) A Prince riding on in a rocky surrounding, painted by Manohar (5) A prince discussing with scholars and old man watching a flock painted by Farukh Beg. An interesting scene of Turkish hammam and a prince enjoying wine, painted by Narsingh, provided details of contemporary life style of sixteenth century A.D.

Among the other rare manuscripts of the library there is a copy of Risalah Khawaja Abdullah Ansari and Sad Pand-i-Luqman bound together and scribed in elegant Nastaliq by the great master calligrapher Mir Ali of Herat who died in 951 A.H. (1544 A.D.). It bears signatures and seals of several kings and scholars and was graded of first category by emperor Shah Jahan and its cost was assessed by him as rupees one thousand. He presented another copy of the same Risalah to Jahan Ara Begum who lavishly praised its importance in her own handwriting. It has the date A.H.998 (1588 A.D.) and bears the seals of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.

Similarly the fly leaf of Diwan-i-Hilali Chagtai scribed in Nastaliq by Mir Imadual-Husaini in A.H.994 (1585 A.D.) bears the seals of famous noblemen of Shahjahan namely Itimad Khan, Inayat Khan, Sadiq Khan, and that of celebrated calligrapher Abdur Rashid Delami.
Jahan Ara Begum recorded in her own hand writing that "these few words of Khwaja Abdullah are matchless and I could not be appropriately described even if I had one thousand tongues."

A unique illustrated Ramayan of Valmiki translated into Persian by Sumer Chand and illustrated during the reign of Farrukh Siyar in A.H.1128(1715-16A.D.) bears 258 miniatures throwing a flood of light on the art, architecture, costumes, ornaments of the period besides highlighting the composite culture of India in the late medieval period.