This volume contains a book of divination by taking omens (fal) attributed to Ja'far al-Ṣādiq (died 148 AH/765 CE), the sixth Imam of the Shi'a (and some Sunnis). Works of this kind were frequently ascribed to the Imams, especially Ali and his great-grandson Ja'far. They could also be ascribed to other prominent historical figures, for example the medieval gnostic Ibn al-'Arabi. The author or translator of the present work, which was dedicated to Sultan Mehmed II (ruled 848-850, 855-886 AH/1444-1446, 1451-1481 CE), is not known. The preamble states that it was based on Ja'far al-Ṣādiq's Falname in Arabic, titled Jalīl al-qawā'id wa jazīl al-fawā'id. The work also exists in Persian. The preamble to the Persian edition (Add MS 6591, dated to 884 AH/1480 CE) states that Ja'far spent fifty years on the work, which was greatly treasured by a succession of caliphs. From them it passed to Sultan Mehmed and was kept by him for constant use (Rieu, Persian Manuscripts II, 800-1). The contents of the Falname, as well as its method of use, is as follows:. (ff 1r-3r) On Ja'far al-Ṣādiq's authorship of the work, praises of Sultan Mehmed, and instructions on using the text. (3v-4r) 3v has six circles named after seasons, winds, and cardinal directions (şita, seyf, debur, saba, cenup, şimal). Each circle is separated into ten sections. Each section has a question about the future, for example, 'will [my] lifetime be long?' or 'if wealth is sought will it be gained?' Having picked a question, the seeker moves to 4r, which has ten circles, each of them named from one to ten. Each circle has six sections, which bear the same questions as on 3v. The seeker finds the same question on this page, and puts together the names of each circle (on 3v and 4r) in which the question is found (e.g. 1 şita). (4v) This page contains a larger circle in ten sections (1-10), each separated into six segments (şita, seyf, debur, saba, cenup, şimal). The seeker 'inputs' their prior number and name (e.g. 1 şita) in order to be redirected to one of sixty columns (cetveller) found between 5r-9v (the column for 1 şita would be ''avvabe'). Each of these columns have ten rows. To settle on a row, the seeker must draw lots and come to a number between one and ten. (5r-9v) The sixty columns mentioned above, with each one named after a zodiac sign or name of a star. The seeker navigates to their column and then to their row. The content of the compartment on this row will redirect them to one of the ten daireler between 10v-20r. It will also tell them which section of the daire to consult, since each daire is split into sixty sections (across two daire, one on each page, for example daire-i halifeler consists of two daire across 10v-11r). (10v-20r) The seeker navigates to their assigned daire and their assigned section. This then redirects them to one of the columns between 20v-50r. (20v-50r) Each column is named after a poet and consists of ten rows, with each row containing two beyitler of poetry. The seeker consults the row corresponding to the number from the lots drawn at the circle on 4v. The poetic verse will reveal the answer to the question asked in the first step on 3v-4r. The present copy lacks the first folio. It is largely identical to Or 16556; the numbers of daireler and cetveller are the same, but their names and order differ in some instances. Begins:. … aktar-ı âlem saadetle münevver kılmıştır ve tahiyat-ı şamile ol ma'den-i risâlet ve makarr-i saadet Habib-i âl üzerine olsunki [...] Badehu malum olkim [sic] bu ilm-i fal kim mazhar-ı münasib-i haldır ve vıfk-ı acibdir ve ilm-i garibdir. Ends:. Ey gelüben-i büthane için fal eden cüvan * Bilgil ki ol ticarette itse gerek ziyan. Gel terk eyle ani sabır eyle gil ta * bahtın sitaresi saadet ire ayan. Other contents of this volume includes an amateurish writing exercise on f 50v comprising sequences of unjointed letters. Though undated, the present copy is probably from the later 11th century AH/17th century CE.
[Falname-i Ca'fer Sadık] - [فالنامهٔ جعفر صادق]
This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
- Reference
- GB 59 Or 15756
- Dates of Creation
- Late 17th century
- Language of Material
- Turkish
- Physical Description
- 1 text 50 ff Material: Off-white laid paper. Foliation: European, 50 ff. Dimensions: 212 x 158 mm; text area variable, around 170 x 90 mm. Pricking and Ruling: 20-40 lines; Diagrams, lines and line numbers of tables, and rubrics in red. Script: Rık'a; headings in red nesih. Binding: Dark maroon morocco limp covers.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Bibliography
The Falnamewas printed twice in Istanbul in 1270 AH/1854 CE and 1333 AH/1917 CE. One of the oldest versions of the text was published as a facsimile by İsmail Hikmet Ertaylan (Istanbul, 1951 CE). For a more recent edition, see Ayşe Duvarcı, Türkiye'de falcılık geleneği ile bu konuda iki eser ''Risale-i Falname li Ca'fer-i Sadik ve Tefe'ülname'' (Ankara: Kültür Bakanlığı, 1993).