Title: Tafseer Al-Qurtubi (Juz 4) | جرء الرابع من تفسير القرطبي
Author: Abu ‘Abdillaah Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abi Bakr bin Farh al-Ansari Al-Khazraji Al-Andalusi Al-Qurtubi (d. 671H) | أبو عبدالله محمد بن أحمد بن أبي بكر بن فَرْح الأنصاري الخزرجي الأندلسي القرطبي
Scribe: Unknown | مجهول
Script: Maghribi
Date: Muharram 1st, 1259H | January 31, 1843 CE
Size: 31.5 x 21.5 CM
Folios: 197 + [3] ff.
Description: 35 Lines/Page | Italian (Tuscan) Wove Paper with G.C. Cini Watermark: The G&C Cini paper maker based in San Marcello Pistoiese by the Tuscan Cini family was established in 1807 CE by Giovanni Cinni (Shelley, 1997). This paper mill (Cini Giovanni Cosimo) was well into operation until the late 1800’s (Papermill Directory of the World, 1884; The British Trade Journal, Vol. 27, pg. 11, 1889). A special consular report from the U.S. Department of State on Paper in Foreign countries mentions the Giovanni Cini Paper mill in operation in 1900 CE (pg. 163, 164). This paper exactly matches icpl.cci.XVI.126.a in CORPUS CHARTARUM ITALICARUM. The paper is quite clear, but the ink does not bind well with the paper, with the ink bleeding through the paper. | Loose binding, leather cover with blind ornamentation tooling and flap. | From the beginning of Surat Al-Maa’idah to Surah Al-A’raaf, Ayah 188
Incipit: وهي مدنية بإجماع، وروي أنها نزلت منصرف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من الحديبية
Explicit: ليس هذا تكريرا، ولكن أحد المسلمين لوقوعها والآخر لكنهها
Provenance: This was purchased from Tétouan, Morocco by the former owner in Madrid, Spain. The manuscript was exported by Al-Matkaba At-Tijariya Al-Kubra li Sahibiha Muhammad Al-Mahdi Al-Hababi in Fez (المكتبة التجارية الكبرى لصاحبها محمد المهدي الحبابي بفاس). The ownership note on Fol. 1 mentions two: “Alhamdulillah, this book is a gift from the one in need of his Lord bountiful to His servants, Muhammad Al-Tahir Bey, to the glorified and honorable progeny of the notable scholars, Abul Hasan As-Sayyid ‘Ali Ibn Al-Mun’im Al-Mabroor Sidi Mahmoud Ibn Al-Khoja, May Allaah enlighted his tomb. That is on 20th of Muharram al-Haram 1335 Hijri (= Nov. 16th, 1916 CE)- Muhammad Al-Tahir”. Muhammad Al-Tahir Bey (1877-1941) was a Tunisian Prince, the son of the 14th Hussaini Ruler of Tunisia, Muhammad Al-Hadi Basha (ruled from 1902 – 1906). The Beys of Tunisia were the ruling family of Tunisia. The Husaini family were Beys that ruled Tunisia from the 18th century to the 20th century starting with Hussain Bey the First. Muhammad Al-Tahir Bey gifted this manuscript to ‘Ali bin Mahmoud bin Al-Khoja (b.1894 & d. 1982). He was the son of the famous Tunisian scholar, Mahmoud bin Al-Khoja. He studied in Zaytuna University in Tunisia and was a Hanafi Faqeeh. When his father died, he became the Imam of Jaami’ Sahib At-Taabi’ (Takmila Mu’jam al-Mu’alifeen, pg. 391). The second ownership note is dated Rabee’ al Anwar bi Mawlidihi Salallahu alaihi wa salam (Rabee’ Al-Awwal) 1332H (1914CE) or 1337H (1918CE). The latter makes more sense to me because it appears that the cousin of ‘Ali bin Mahmoud bin Al-Khoja purchased this manuscript from him. The ownership note states that the manuscript was purchased from the ‘Aalim al-Akmal [..] Ibn ‘Ami al-Azeez ash-Shaykh, Shaykh ‘Ali ibn Shaykhul Islaam, Shaykh Mahmoud bin Al-Khoja [..] for a certain price that I haven’t deciphered. It is signed ‘Ali bin Ahmad bin Al-Khoja- who was possibly Ali bin Ahmad ath-Thani bin Al-Khoja (d. 1943CE) and was also a teacher at Zaytuna University.
Research Notes: Volume Two of this manuscript sold in Auction on March 23rd, 2018 for roughly $1,200
Accession #: Ms.068j.c