Manuscripts of the Treatise “Hadīqat Al-'Ārifīn” of Ishāq Khoja Bin Ismâ‘Īl Ata

Abstract

Reliability and validity of written sources is always critical in research. A key step in conducting thorough and accurate research is to find the most reliable and original versions of written sources. Researchers often rely on primary sources to ensure the highest level of credibility and accuracy in their work. Factors such as the preservation of the manuscript, the integrity of the text, the circumstances of the copying, and the environment in which the author and scribes worked and lived all contribute to determining the reliability and significance of a source. Paleographical and codicological data play a critical role in understanding the history and provenance of manuscripts, allowing researchers to assess their authenticity and importance in the context of their time and place. Analysis of such data can help shed light on research into these historical documents. Therefore, in the article we try to describe the paleographic and codicological features of the manuscripts of “Hadīqat al-’Ārifīn”, preserved in the book collections of Tashkent, Kokand, Kabul, Uppsala. Undoubtedly, this comparative analysis can provide valuable insight into the main dogmatists of the Yasavī Sufi school. By comparing different versions of the manuscript from different collections, researchers can analyze textual variations and stylistics that can shed light on the development and interpretation of Yasavī 's teachings within the Sufi tradition. The manuscript copies help to understand the evolution and transmission of Yasavī 's spiritual and philosophical ideas across different regions and time periods.  Keywords: Khoja Ahmad Yasavī, Ishāq Khoja, Ismā‘īl Ata, “Hadīqat al-’Ārifīn”, Turkistan Tashkent.