Iḵẖwanu-ṣ-safā, or Brothers of purity / translated from the Hindūstānī of Ikrām 'Alī, by John Platts; carried through tne press by Edward B. Eastwick.

  • Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʼ.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Iḵẖwanu-ṣ-safā, or Brothers of purity / translated from the Hindūstānī of Ikrām 'Alī, by John Platts; carried through tne press by Edward B. Eastwick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. Praise beyond measure is due to that self-existent1 Being, who conferred various forms on all created bodies, notwithstanding the singleness of the (com¬ posing) matter, and who, organizing the human species,2 bestowed distinct powers on each individual. Infinite praise is meet and proper for that Creator who, having brought the human race into (the world of) existence from the caverns of chaos ;3 bestowed on it pre-eminence over all created things; and, having adorned human nature with the gift of speech, clothed it with the robe of knowledge. What ability is there in weak-framed man to express becoming gratefulness ' Wdjibu-l-wujud = that of which the existence is necessary. 2 The terms “jins” and “fasl” have their logical signification here; the former meaning genus, and the latter differentia or characteristic. The passage, rendered literally, would therefore be, “ Who constituted the -luman essence (or substance) by joining the characteristic to the genus.” 3 Literally,—Trow the cellars (or chambers) of ron existence.