دانشگاه اصفهان متن شناسی ادب فارسی 2476-3268 18 3 2026 08 23 A Study of the Manuscript of the Commentary on Makhzan al-Asrar in Khokand, Uzbekistan (Including an Introduction and Critique of this Commentary) بررسی نسخۀ خطیِ شرحِ مخزن‌الاسرارِ خوقند ازبکستان (به همراه معرفی و نقد این شرح) 53 75 30154 10.22108/rpll.2025.146719.2502 FA علیرضا نبی لو استاد گروه زبان و ادبیات فارسی، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه قم، قم، ایران Journal Article 2025 09 18 Abstract This study introduces, examines, and critiques the Khokand, Uzbekistan manuscript (Sh.M.Kh.A.) of the commentary on Makhzan al-Asrar, registered under number KP7307 and consisting of 201 folios, currently preserved in the Khokand Museum of Literature. The study aims to identify the characteristics of this manuscript and the methodological approach of its commentator, to evaluate the scholarly value of the commentary, and to compare it with major earlier and contemporary commentaries, including those by Muhammad ibn Qavam Balkhi, Qadi Ibrahim Tatavi, Vahid Dastgerdi, Servatian, and Zanjani. In the first section, with the purpose of introducing the commentator’s method, the article examines several linguistic and literary features of the commentary, such as references to Qur’anic verses and hadiths, rhetorical observations, grammatical and lexical analyses, citations from other poets’ works, and related elements. In the second section, selected examples of verse interpretation are analyzed, and the textual, methodological, and interpretive differences between the Khokand manuscript and other commentaries are demonstrated. The third section focuses on certain errors and inaccuracies found in the commentary, including issues such as the account of the shooting of Khwaja Nizam al-Mulk Tusi with an arrow, the identification of “Babel” as a well in Kashmir, inconsistencies in the transcription of specific words, and incorrect attribution of some poetic evidence. The findings indicate that the Khokand manuscript constitutes a valuable and relatively rich commentary, comparable in many respects to authoritative commentaries, although its shortcomings should not be overlooked. Keywords: Khokand Manuscript from Uzbekistan, Makhzan al-Asrar, Muhammad ibn Qavam Balkhi, Qazi Ibrahim Tatavi. Introduction The manuscript commentary on Makhzan al-Asrar preserved in Khokand, Uzbekistan, is among the lesser-known and largely unexplored commentaries that have received little scholarly attention to date. Although detailed information about this commentary is scarce, its importance and the scholarly value of its content necessitate careful examination. Accordingly, the first section of this article concentrates on the commentator’s method and on selected linguistic and literary aspects of the commentary that assisted the commentator in explicating the verses. This analysis demonstrates that the commentator possessed substantial knowledge of grammar, rhetoric, astronomy, Qur’anic and Hadith studies, narratives and anecdotes, as well as the literary conventions commonly employed in textual commentary. The second section addresses the interpretation of several debated verses from Makhzan al-Asrar and, through comparison with other extant commentaries, clarifies the value and distinctiveness of the explanations offered in this manuscript. The third section is devoted to identifying and analyzing certain oversights and errors on the part of the commentator. Materials and Methods The present research has been conducted using a descriptive, comparative, and analytical methodology, drawing primarily on library-based sources. After a close examination of the Khokand, Uzbekistan manuscript commentary on Makhzan al-Asrar, the interpretations and explanations offered by its commentator are systematically compared with those presented in earlier and contemporary commentaries in order to assess similarities, differences, and scholarly value. Research Findings Several distinctive features of this commentary merit attention and differentiate it from some other commentaries on Makhzan al-Asrar. One notable characteristic is its more extensive citation of Qur’anic verses, hadiths, and authoritative sayings. Another prominent feature is the commentator’s heightened attention to the rhetorical aspects of the verses and their interpretive explanation. Sensitivity to linguistic and lexical nuances, as well as to grammatical points, also figures prominently in this work. Where necessary, the commentary elaborates on narratives and accounts related to specific verses, offering relatively comprehensive explanations. Attention to auxiliary fields of knowledge reflected in Nizami’s poetry—such as astronomy and medicine—constitutes another important characteristic, and the commentator demonstrates considerable familiarity with these disciplines. Additionally, the citation of poetic verses by figures such as Khaqani, Kamal al-Din Ismail, Zahir Faryabi, and others represents a further distinguishing feature of this commentary. Discussion of Results and Conclusions The findings of this research demonstrate that the Khokand commentary on Makhzan al-Asrar represents a significant resource for understanding this work, exhibiting both notable strengths and identifiable weaknesses. Among its positive features are: (1) extensive reliance on Qur’anic verses and hadiths as tools for elucidating poetic meanings; (2) the commentator’s awareness of prevailing auxiliary knowledge, including astronomy, medicine, mythology, and religious narratives, which aids in clarifying certain complex concepts; (3) precise attention to rhetorical devices such as metaphor, simile, metonymy, and personification; and (4) the use of poetic evidence from figures such as Khaqani, Zahir Faryabi, Sa‘di, and others to substantiate and clarify interpretations. These characteristics position the commentary as a relatively independent and useful scholarly reference, displaying considerable strengths in comparison with some earlier and contemporary commentaries. At the same time, certain errors and inaccuracies are not insignificant, including misattributions—such as statements attributed to Khwaja Nizam Tusi that conflict with the text and other historical sources—misinterpretations of the geographical context of myths, such as identifying “Babel” as a well in Kashmir, and inconsistencies in the transcription of particular words that affect the understanding of verses. These issues do not undermine the overall scholarly value of the manuscript; rather, they underscore the necessity of producing a critical, research-based edition accompanied by comparative annotations, in order to more precisely determine the position of this commentary within the broader tradition of interpretations of Makhzan al-Asrar. این مقاله به معرفی، نقد و بررسیِ نسخۀ خطی شرح مخزن‌الاسرار خوقند ازبکستان (شمخا) می‌پردازد که به شمارۀ ثبت KP7307 و شامل 201 برگ در موزۀ ادبیات خوقند ثبت شده و نگهداری می‌شود. هدف پژوهش، شناخت ویژگی‌های نسخه و شیوۀ کار شارح، سنجش ارزش تحقیقی شرح و مقایسۀ آن با شروح برجستۀ پیشین و معاصر (از جمله محمد بن قوام بلخی، قاضی ابراهیم تتوی، وحیددستگردی، ثروتیان و زنجانی) است. در بخش نخست، به‌قصد معرفی شیوۀ کار شارح، به برخی ویژگی‌های زبانی و ادبیِ شرح، مانند استناد به آیات و احادیث، نکات بلاغی، نکات دستوری و واژگانی، استناد به شعر شاعران دیگر و... پرداخته شد. در بخش دوم، نمونه‌هایی از شرح ابیات مخزن‌الاسرار تحلیل شد و تفاوت‌های ضبطی، روشی و تفسیریِ نسخۀ خوقند با دیگر شروح نشان داده شد؛ در بخش سوم، برخی خطاها و لغزش‌های شارح در توضیح و تبیین ابیات بررسی‌شده مواردی مانند تیرخوردن خواجه نظام طوسی، معرفی «بابل» به‌عنوان چاهی در کشمیر، اختلاف ضبطِ برخی واژه‌ها و استناد غلط برخی شواهد شعری. نتایج نشان می‌دهد که نسخۀ خطی خوقند، شرحی درخور توجه و مطالعه است و در بسیاری موارد همطراز با شروح معتبر است، هرچند از برخی لغزش‌های آن نباید چشم‌پوشی کرد.

https://rpll.ui.ac.ir/article_30154_6a4385b4d25c38ae6f33aec2f08233e5.pdf