Studies on the works of Al-Tughra'i

• Main Author: Razook, Faraj Razook
• Published: SOAS, University of London 1963
• Subjects: 892.7
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.505801

This thesis embodies studies on the poetical and alchemical works of Al-Tughra'i. It consists of four chapters and five appendices. The first chapter is a short historical account of the Seljuqid Period (for it is in these times that the whole of Al-Tughrä'i's life lies) with special attention to the literary and scientific character of the period. The second chapter is a biography of A1-Tughräti with special reference to his political life and his execution at the age of sixty-two on a charge of heresy. The third chapter deals with Al-Tughra'i's poetical works. Special care is taken of his poetic masterpiece, the Lämiyya and its associated works. His alchemical poetical works are studied here in respect to their form, and a discussion of his elegant prose (of which there is no extant example) concludes the chapter. The fourth chapter, which is the most important, deals with Al-Tughrä'i's works on alchemy about which no studies have been made. There is an introduction to alchemy in general and Islamic alchemy in particular, followed by detailed studies on nine of the works concerning their authenticity, content as well as other relevant information about their extant manuscripts. Several other works attributed to Al-Tughrä'i are discussed and his authorship of them disputed.