English: 'IMAD AL-DIN MUHAMMAD BIN MUHAMMAD BIN HAMID AL-KATIB AL-ISFAHANI (D.1201 AD): TARIKH AL-BARQ AL-BANA

MAMLUK SYRIA, 15TH CENTURY

The Syrian lightning, A history of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin), vol.IV, Arabic manuscript on paper, 80ff. plus two modern fly-leaves, each folio with 16ll. of black naskh script, titles in red, some words highlighted in red, with catchwords, colophon with date of AH 770 and place of copy stated as Madrasa al-Malik al-'Adil in Damascus, in modern purple binding Folio 7 3/8 x 5 3/8in. (19 x 13.6cm.)

'Imad al-Din was born in Isfahan in 1125. After working in Baghdad for the caliphal administration, he was employed by Nur al-Din Zenki and by Salah al-Din Ayyub after Nur al-Din's death in 1174. This work Barq al-Shami, alongside the Fath al-Qussi fi al-Fath al-Qudsi ("Eloquence of the Conquest of the Holy City"), is a celebration of the triumphs of Saladin over the Crusaders. 'Imad al-din's works are one of the major sources of information on that important historical period 727bert Irwin, Anthology of Classical Arabic Literature, 1999, chap.7).