Newly Discovered Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Manuscript Published in Kazakhstan
The National Center for Manuscripts and Rare Books in Astana announced the publication of a copy of a manuscript by the renowned philosopher and scientist, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, which was discovered in the United States. The manuscript, titled “Risala Mirat al-Qulub,” was originally written in the 12th century in Arabic script in the Turkic language and expounds on humanistic values such as justice, honesty, and goodness.
The 18th-century copy of the manuscript was found in the Library of Congress in Washington, and experts are currently examining it to compare it with the original and identify any differences. Almat Absalykov, the chief expert at the center, explained that they employ various methods in their efforts to search for heritage, including scouring the internet for electronic versions of ancient manuscripts, rare books, and maps.
Absalykov mentioned, “On foreign websites, we identify copies of important written data related to the history of Kazakhstan and make facsimiles.” The process of binding the new copy of the manuscript took three weeks, and the original work is now housed in the National Library of Kazakhstan.
This discovery and publication of the manuscript provides valuable insight into the historical and cultural heritage of Kazakhstan and sheds light on the philosophical and scientific contributions of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. The manuscript serves as an important link to the past and contributes to the preservation and promotion of Kazakhstan’s rich cultural legacy.
