Page 173 - Arabiab Studies (IV)

The Omani Manuscript Collection at Muscat 163
V. LAW
It was impossible to arrive at an accurate total for this category as
the MSS are too numerous. An estimate would be 900 to 1,000
such works. It should be stressed here that time did not permit also
the sub-division of this subject which covers in the widest sense the
fields of fiqh, shar‘ and fatawa. As far as it has been possible to
ascertain, all the works examined belong to the Ibatjiyyah. It
appears more than likely that many of the MSS listed below will
prove to be of great value not only in themselves, but also for the
study of the social history of Oman.
V.l. Ahmad b. ‘Abd Allah al-Kindl, Kitab al-Mu$annaf. No volume
number given. The work is in the question-answer form. [930]
V.2. Same work as previous entry. No volume number given. Subjects
include wilayah,2 descriptions of the 'Him, dhunub, $unuf a’mal
al-qalb, fada’il Rasul Allah etc. [1051 The following are other volumes
of this work:
V.3. Two volumes in one on prayer, unnumbered. [12121
V.4. Vol. 7, copied 1274 (A.D. 1857). [169]. See Plates la and lb.
V.5. Vols. 9, 19, copied 981 (1573). [1098]
V.6. Vol. 19, copied 1064 (1653). [557]
V.7. Vol. 21, copied 1284 (1867). [1020]
V.8. Vol. 21, incomplete. [234]
V.9. Vol. 21, copied 970 (1562). [1055]
V.10. Vol. 21, copied 1145 (1732). [874]
V.ll. Vol. 23, copied 1241 (1825). [1305]
V.12. Vol. 25, copied 1378 (1958). [1148]
V.13. Vol. 27, copied 1281 (1864). [254]
V.14. Vol. 27, copied 1098 (1686). [982]
V.15. Vol. 28, copied 1098 (1686). [967]
V.16. Vol. 28, copied 1063 (1652). [554]
V.17. Vol. 28.(1051]
V.l8. Vol. 29, copied 1142 (1729). [1281]
V.l9. Vol. 29, copied 1145 (1732). [68]
V.20. Vol. 29. [1388]
V.21. Vols. 33, 35 and 37, copied 1112 (1700). [1210]
V.22. Vol. 34, copied 1099 (1687). [979]
V.23. Vol. 35, copied 1128 (1715). [80]
V.24. Vols. 35 and 36, copied 1145 (1732). [62]
V.25. Vol. 36.(1372]
V.26. Vol. 37, copied 1066 (1655). [809]
V.27. Vol. 38. [1025]
The original Mu$annaf was written in 41 volumes, though time did not
allow the discovery of a complete set. The work is discussed at some
length by J. C. Wilkinson, ‘Bio-bibliographical background, etc.’, Arabian
Studies, III, 143-4, 157. It is known in North Africa, cf. J. Schacht,
‘Bibliothiques ct manuscrits abadites’, Revue africaine, C, 384, item 27,