NUR-UDDIN ABD-RAHMAN JAMI (نور الدين عبد الرحمن حامى)

Iran, Persian, 1558. MS 017

Nur-uddin abd-Rahman Jami(1414-1492; AH 817-98), colloquially known as Jami, was a Sufi poet known as khatam al-shu’ara (خاتم الشعرا), the seal of poets, to the Naqshbandiyya order. He is called the last great classical poet of the Persian language. His religious philosophy centered around the absolute truth of God and that the human duty is to teach this truth through love. In addition to Al-Beharistan, some of his more famous works include Lawa’ih (Flashes), Nahfat al-Uns (Fragrances of Companionship) and Silsilat al-Dhahab (Chan of Gold).

MS 017 contains Jami’s 1487 work called Al-Beharistan, or The Abode of Spring, in 130 tinted paper leaves. Gold borders encase the Nasta’liq calligraphy on each leaf. The work is divided into eight chapters, or gardens, each illuminated with a headband of gold gilt panel upon a blue base with a multi-color floral pattern on gold vines (figure 1). The chapters are titled as follows: (1) Saints & Sufi (2) Philosophers & Wise Men (3) Justice of Kings (4) Generosity (5) Love (6) Wit (7) Poets & Birds (8) Dumb Animals. According to his introduction, the work was composed for his son’s instruction. Therefore, the first three chapters revolve around Sufi tenants in a mysticism style, often including anecdotes. In addition to the preliminary three, the fourth chapter on Generosity and Liberality also includes stories from actual events. The fifth chapter deals in love affairs — the translator of the 1887 edition notes that, “there is scarcely anything that which will greatly shock the taste of European readers.” The sixth chapter on Humor & Wit was the first chapter to be translated into English by C.G. Wilson. The seventh garden includes an anthology of thirty-five poets and their compositions. The final garden contains twenty-three animal fables.

Bibliography

Jami, Nur-dduin abd-Rahman (1414-1492), Al-Beharistan (The Abode of Spring), 1558. University of Oregon Special Collections & University Archives, MS 017. https://alliance-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/3uoa1r/CP71269068070001451

Bowker, John. “Jami, Mawlana Nur al-Din Abd al-Rahman,” in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. Oxford University Press: 2003.

Jami, trans. Rehatsek, E. The Beharistan (Abode of Spring): A Literal Translation from the Persian. Kama Shastra Society: Benara, 1887.

Shah, Sayed Idries. “Jami” in The Oxford Companion to the Mind. Oxford University Press: 2004