Lesson Title: A Detailed Look at the Authenticity of Transmission in Audition Lists and the Documentation of Copies
Summary
In this lesson, Shaykh Salih al-Azhari addresses fine details concerning audition lists (tabaqat al-sama’) in manuscripts, showing the difference between original and copied-over audition. The Shaykh highlights issues relating to the documentation of texts and their accurate fixing (dabt), and how to understand the historical context of copying and ownership (tamalluk), while pointing to the challenges of this field.
Main Elements of the Lesson
1. The Concept of Original and Copied-Over Audition
- Original audition: the copy written during the audition session itself, in the hand of a person who was present.
- Copied-over audition: the copy transferred from another original copy, with the possibility of inaccuracy in the copying.
2. The Importance of the Original Copy
- The original copy is considered the primary reference for any text.
- “The shaykh’s exemplar” (asl al-shaykh) is the copy the shaykh used during the audition session to correct the texts.
3. Conditions for the Soundness of Copied Copies
- The text must match the original copy.
- The corrections of the shaykh or the transmitting authority (musmi’) must be present.
- The copying must be from an original, or from a secondary copy (far’) that has been collated against the original.
4. The Issue of Copying and Ownership
- Copied-over copies may carry features of originality if the writer was one of those present at the audition session.
- “The scent of originality” refers to copies written by those who were present but which were transferred later.
5. Scholars’ Positions on Copying
- Scholars set precise conditions for authenticating copies, such as collating (muqabala) the text letter by letter.
- Some copies are considered unreliable if they were not collated properly.
6. Examples from Manuscripts
- Reference to copies such as Juz’ Ibn Fil and the manuscripts of Ibn al-Qalqashandi.
- Clarification that copies transferred after the shaykh’s death need additional conditions before they can be relied upon.
7. Problems in Copying
- Differences in the texts between copies may lead to their accuracy being called into question.
- The absence of any indication of copying in some copies raises questions about their source.
8. The Tree of Copies
- Clarifying the relationship between the original and its secondary copies.
- Explaining the sequence of copies from the shaykh to those present, and the resulting differences in documentation.
Conclusion
The lesson shows the importance of scrutinizing audition lists and understanding the fine differences between original and copied-over copies. Shaykh Salih al-Azhari focuses on the need to study the context and rely on contextual indications to determine the authenticity of texts, while highlighting real examples from manuscripts.