Abstract:
The manuscript (encryption number P-387), which belongs to the Islamic
Shia, is stored at the National Center of Manuscripts. The timing of reproducing
and turning it into the handbook coincides with the time, when Shah Ismail I
(1501-1524) had announced Shia as the state religion in Iran. Ismail was bound
to undertake the religion mission of Sheikh, which meant imposing Islam to the
occupied territories.
The manuscript P-387 consists of 12 pages. As we have learned from the
description of the manuscript, it represents the fragment of big Muslim
manuscript from 16th-7th centuries. P-387 seems to be the earliest among the
katechismos, stored at the National Center of Manuscripts. Comparison of
Muslim manuscripts [P-387, P-476, P-477, P-478, P-479,P-486, P-487, P-488;]
of this type has revealed that this polemic writing (or part of the writing) with
religious content is called either “Chahar Fasl” چهارفصل (literal translation:
“Four Seasons”) or “Mohemat Al-moslemin” مهمات المسلمين (important and
principal for the Muslim). The architectonics and introduction of the catechisms
and the structure of writing coincide with each other.
Persian manuscript P-387 is interesting from the point of view of giving
considerably detailed information about the religious doctrine of Islam. The
explaination is given to the essence and definition of: Iman, Namaz (Muslim
prayer), Moharam (holy month in Islam, when Muslims are fasting during the
whole month), Harama (restricted), Halal (allowed) and Shariat (Muslim Law)
as well as Muslim’s obligations in front of the religion and its rituals during the
whole year.
Catechism puts all possible questions asked by the Muslims and Non-Muslims and answers them. Presumably, the Manuscript represents the manual for religious disputes and it preaches Islam. Supposedly, this type of manuscripts were emerging on the Georgian territory on the background of religious confrontation between Iran and Georgia.
