Geniza Lab

Letter from Mūsā b. Hibatallāh al-Yahūdī al-Mutaṭabbib ("the Jewish doctor") to an unidentified dignitary. In Arabic script. Dating: Perhaps 12th or 13th century based on handwriting and style. Preserved text: افضل تحياته وسلامه على . . . وعلى ابائه الطاهرين. The sender may be Moshe b. Netanʾel ha-Levi, known to have served as a physician in a government hospital; see Goitein, Med Soc II, pp. 528 and 578, and M. A. Friedman, “Maimonides and Zuta: A Tale of Three Bans.” Zion 74 (2005): 473–527. However, not enough is preserved, so this identification is speculative. (Information in part from CUDL.) ASE

Recto: recipe, introduced with the basmala and including Prunus mahaleb, Cistus ladaniferus, nard, and rose seeds. Verso: the last line of a letter or document mentioning ‘our lord the Nagid’. (Information from CUDL)

Seems to be a state report on agricultural tax collection. Dating: Likely Mamluk-era based on formulae, names, and handwriting, but this is a guess. Seems to mention Lājīn (the sender's name? second to last line of recto) and the amirs Majd al-Dīn and ʿIzz al-Dīn. Needs much more examination.

Fragment of a state document. 8 lines are partially preserved from near the beginning. Wide space between the lines, chancery hand. Opens with prayers for the distinguished addressee (the caliph?). Mentions al-[...] al-Ḥāfiẓiyya, indicating that this document comes from the administration of al-Ḥāfiẓ (1132–49). On verso there is a calendar in Hebrew script with the molads for two different maḥzors; the date range could probably be identified with effort, but the numbers of the maḥzors are missing.

Medical recipes in Arabic script.

Accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals.

Accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals.

Accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals.

Accounts in Arabic script. Maybe of a merchant, listing debts owed. Dating: Likely 11th or 12th century. Many names mentioned, including someone titled al-mufattish ('the inspector').

Tax receipt. Fragment (bottom half). In the hand of the jahbadh Mīkhāʾīl b. ʿAbd al-Masīḥ (active in the early 11th century in al-Fayyūm).

Accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals.

Bifolio from a fiscal accounting ledger. In Arabic script. About 10 distinct entries, each apparently with its own ʿalāma / registration mark. Cf. T-S NS 297.270. Needs examination.

Bifolium written in Arabic script in black and red ink, with diacritics. Contains a version of the famous ḥadīth in which the true jihad is defined as the struggle against oneself. Here: الجاهد المقاتل من يقاتل نفسه بنفسه. In another source (e.g. https://al-maktaba.org/book/3610/17): الْمُجَاهِدُ مَنْ جَاهَدَ نَفْسَهُ بِنَفْسِهِ. Needs further examination.

Bottom of a petition. In Arabic script. Dating: Perhaps Ayyubid-era, based on the titles. The addressee (the caliph or vizier?) is asked to issue (or have issued) "the noble rescript" (al-tawqīʿ al-karīm) to al-Qāḍī al-Muwaffaq al-Sadīd Sayf al-Dīn(?). Might mention "the doctors" (الطب). Reused for Hebrew jottings. Needs further examination.

Accounts of a druggist or merchant. In Arabic script. Listing dozens of different kinds of materia medica and other godos.

State document in Arabic script. 7 lines are partially preserved. Mentions a rescript (al-tawqīʿ) and probably a year in the 5th century AH (4[..]).

Receipt of some kind. In Arabic script. Granted by Hibatallāh b. ʿAbdallāh to a certain Hiba.

Official document of some kind. In Arabic script.

Accounts for construction (? حساب العمارة). In Arabic script.

Tax receipt? Might be dated 637 AH. Mentions المستخدم بمصر.