Geniza Lab

Document in Arabic script. Unclear what it is. Perhaps a fiscal account: the word al-mablagh appears on recto, and al-ʿāmil on verso.

Document in Arabic script. Looks official. Needs examination.

Recto: Document in Arabic script. Possibly a letter. Rudimentary handwriting and orthography. Sings the praises of a Coptic sage in Alexandria. This sage is versed in theology (الناطق بالقوال التالوغسية) and Hermetic arts (المتادب بالاداب الهرمسية) and translates the Coptic and the Arabic languages (مترجم الغات القبطية والعربية). Verso: Letter (or legal query) from Christians addressed to Muslim authorities. In Arabic script. The writers complain about a Christian who was attacked by Muslims, who had been asked by other Christians to do that. They grabbed him, beat him, and dragged him before the bishop of the Christians. Dating: Unknown. Szilagyi dates the fragment to the 10th-15th centuries on the basis of the handwriting. The reference to translating and Coptic and Arabic suggests an earlier date, 10th to 13th century. And there is one word (الاوبيين) that perhaps should be read "al-Ayyūbiyyīn" which would date the fragment to 1171–1250 CE. But it might also be al-adībīn. Informtion from Krisztina Szilagyi via FGP.

Document in Arabic script. Probably a letter. Very faded. Mentions a boat. Verso may be a distinct document, also in Arabic script.

Letter fragment. In Arabic script. Mentions the faqīh Abū l-Ḥasan al-Maghribī al-Anṣārī; mentions a funduq. Needs further examination.

Literary text in Arabic script. Includes the well-known story of Ibn al-Sammāk who visited Hārūn al-Rashīd, who was drinking water. Ibn al-Sammāk stopped him from drinking and asked what he would give to be able to drink if he were forbidden from doing so. "My whole kingdom!" He then let him drink, upon which he asked what he would give to be able to void the water. "My whole kingdom!" Ergo, a kingdom is worth nothing more than a drink and a void.

Literary text in Arabic script. Probably belongs with the previous shelfmark.

Astrological text. In Arabic script. A list of celestial objects in various configurations.

Accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals. In fact, one page is entirely filled with numerals.

Magical recipe written in Arabic and Hebrew. The Arabic script reads "ṣifa kāghaḍa (=kāghadh) saḥiḥa wa-hiya lā tataghayyar wa-taṣnaʿ minhā mā shiʾt" on verso. Recto: pen trials and signature practices in Arabic script including taqbīl clause, and cartouches. Late. Perforations for binding.

Letter from Barakāt b. Abū l-Faraj al-Dayyān (=Shelomo b. Eliyyahu) to Abū l-Ḥasan. In Arabic script. Pleading for a loan of 20 dirhams against a turban as collateral, so that he and his father can pay the capitation tax. Same sender, addressee, and purpose as P. Heid. Arab. III 42, but written at a different point in time. Verso: Accounts in Arabic script, with possibly Coptic alpha numerals. Needs examination.

Receipt or bill or account. In Arabic script. May be stating that the writer has received (akhadhtuhā) the sum of 50 dirhams for various textile-related expenses. Lines 2–3 may include the phrases "in the hand of the Rāb" and "the presence of the judges." The line items include the laundering (ghasīl) of a silk brocade veil (al-sitr al-dībāj), the laundering of two white ghiṭā's, the price of silk, dyeing (ṣibāgh), and sewing (khiyāṭ). ASE

Recipe or instructions in Arabic script. Likely alchemical. Mentions lead (three lines from the bottom) and "it becomes elixir" (iksīr) in the next line. On verso there are Arabic letters accompanied by their numerical values.

Legal document. In Arabic script. Badr al-Dīn al-Ḥāmī(?) does something with Fatḥallāh al-Yahūdī on a certain date. The document is dated, but needs to be deciphered.

Literary text in Arabic script.

Literary text in Arabic script. Possibly medical.

Letter or copies of letters, each starting with a basmala. Letter starting at the bottom of verso is addressed to the Abbasid al-Manṣūrīya (al-Mawqifa al-Manṣūrīyya al-Saifīyya).

Petition in Arabic script. There are multiple senders, one of whom may be the Jew Abū [...] (line 2). Much of the readily legible text is very formulaic. They refer to khurūj al-amr al-ʿāl ('the issuing of the elevated command').

Tax receipt, Fatimid. One registration mark; 'al-ḥamdu lil-lāh ḥamd al-shākirīn'. Written in the month of Jumād al-Ukhrā of an undeciphered year. Blank verso. Perforated for binding.

Accounts. In Arabic script. There is a neat row of holes from where this fragment used to be bound into a notebook.