Or 16391 (1)

This part (ff 5v-102r) of Or 16391 contains the Nihalistan of the renowned Ottoman writer and poet Nergisi Mehmed Efendi (died 1044 AH/1635 CE). He was perhaps the most distinguished writer of ornate Ottoman prose (inşa).

Nergisi was born in Sarajevo between the years 988-994 AH/1580-1586 CE. He began his education in the city of his birth and continued in Istanbul, receiving his mülazemet from his teacher and patron Kafzade Feyzullah Efendi (died 1020 AH/1611 CE). He went on to serve as a kadı in various posts, mainly in Rumelia and especially in Bosnia. He was kadı of Banja Luka in 1038 AH/1628 CE, during which time he composed the Vasfu’l-kamil (Or 16120). He was appointed by Murad IV as vak‘anüvis for the Revan campaign in 1044 AH/1634-5 CE. However, due to a fall from his horse near Gebze, he died soon after, on 9 Şevval 1044 AH/28 March 1635 CE.

The Nihalistan is a didactic mesnevi in Nergisi’s characteristically ornate style, and including many anecdotes. It is the first, and most important, poem of his Hamse. It was written on two occasions by Nergisi; the first was comprised of hikayeler (stories) about love and romance, and was formed out of another work of his, the Meşâkku’l-Uşşâk, which he presented to Şeyhülislam Yahya Efendi in 1034 AH/1625 CE. Nergisi then rewrote the work in 1035 AH/1626 CE upon the request of Mehmed Ali Rızai, the nephew of Şeyhülislam Zekeriyyazade Yahya Efendi. Rızai asked that Nergisi include stories dealing with themes other than love (Çaldak, ‘Nergisî’).

The present volume contains the first version of the Nihalistan, which consists of seventeen tales spread across four sections, each called nihal (‘offshoot’). In contrast, the twenty-five tales in the second version are spread across five nihallar. In the lengthy introduction (5v-22v), Nergisi explains that due to his own inclination towards love, he has always shared in the love-related troubles of others of similar character. He often collected their stories, and on the occasion of a picnic in the spring of 1035 AH (1626 CE), related some of these stories to his friends, who subsequently asked him to compile them into a book. The lengthy introduction also contains praises of God, the Prophet Muhammad, Sultan Murad IV, Yahya Efendi, and Rızai, and ends with Nergisi’s explanation of his style of writing and organisation of the text (20v-22v). This is followed by the first nihal (23r-56r), which consists of six stories on the theme of love. The three stories of the second nihal (56r-66r) narrate the recompense received by those who committed praiseworthy or wrongful actions. In the third nihal (66r-92r), Nergisi narrates five stories with elements that serve as cautionary tales or which demonstrate the beautiful yet unlikely outcomes that come about solely as the manifestation of one’s destiny. The fourth and final nihal (92r-102r) consists of three stories about people who fell into crime and debauchery in their youth but later repented and began to lead a praiseworthy life.

There is a small illuminated unvan with gilt floral ornamentation and the title on 5v. 5v-6r feature black and gilt text frames.

Begins:

Demkeş-i Hamame-i dil-keş terane-i hame-i i‘caz-tiraz ki beyga-yi şeker-ha-yi nutuk ve beyana demsaz ve oltut-i (sic) hoşlehce-i şirin-zebana hem-avaz ve tercüman-ı razdır

Ends:

Zikr olan evkat ve hasenat el-an * zib-i çarsu-yi imkan * ve ba‘is-i zikr-i cemil ve du‘a-yi hayr-i yaran * İlahî ‘akibet mahmud gerdan

This copy likely dates to the 12th century AH/18th century CE.