Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma fassarahu Batlamyus al-Hakim - dimn Nawadir al-Makhtutat

Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma fassarahu Batlamyus al-Hakim (A Treatise on Nowruz as Interpreted by Ptolemy the Wise) is an anonymous Arabic astrological treatise on predicting yearly events based on the day of the week on which Nowruz falls Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma…+1. The text was edited by Abd al-Salam Harun and published within the second volume of his collection Nawadir al-Makhtutat (Rare Manuscripts) Nawadir al-Makhtutat+1.

Manuscript and Attribution

In the surviving manuscript, the full title appears as Dhikr ma ja'a fi al-Nayruz wa-ahkamuhu mimma fassarahu Batlamyus al-Hakim wa-wajadahu 'an 'ilm Daniyal ("Account of What Has Been Transmitted Concerning Nowruz and Its Judgments as Interpreted by Ptolemy the Wise and Derived from the Knowledge of Daniel") Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma…. The text was preserved in a collective volume acquired on microfilm (reel no. 916) by the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts of the Arab League from the Murad Mulla Library in Turkey (MS 338) Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma….

The editor noted that while the text belongs to ancient astrological lore, it reflects the intellectual currents of earlier eras and the historical attention given to Nowruz Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma…. It was published in Nawadir al-Makhtutat alongside other works on the subject—such as Ibn Faris's linguistic treatise on Nowruz and Ibn Sina's al-Risala al-Nayruziyya—in part to facilitate further research into establishing its precise authorship and transmission Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma…+1.

Contents

The treatise outlines astrological judgments (ahkam) for the upcoming year according to the weekday on which Nowruz begins, associating each of the seven days with a governing celestial body and detailing corresponding forecasts for the Nile flood, agricultural yields, commodity prices, climate, diseases, and political fortunes Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma…+1:

• Sunday (the Sun): Foretells a moderate rise of the Nile, good crops, inexpensive wheat at the start of the Coptic month of Tut, high prices for sheep and wool until Baramudah, a mild winter accompanied by severe illnesses, abundant rain, early summer, plentiful date harvests, and victory for the ruler over enemies Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma….
• Monday (the Moon): Indicates an advantageous Nile flood, good crops alongside damage to date palms, fluctuating wheat prices (rising between Kiyahk and Baramudah), high prices for oil and clothing over five months, warfare across the world, mild early winter, widespread epidemics, expensive honey and dates, intense heat, and strife among rulers Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma….
• Tuesday (Mars): Predicts an uninterrupted Nile flow that rises moderately before receding to public dismay, severe cold, mortality among Turks and Slavs, bloodshed, increased deaths among women, royal disputes, and an earthquake Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma….
• Wednesday (Mercury): Portends a moderate Nile that recedes rapidly, widespread illness and death particularly among children, an increase in thieves, wheat being cheap in Tut but expensive in Babah, the appearance of a celestial body unseen for many years, reduced warfare, plentiful grains alongside men perishing by the sword, elevated status for non-Arab Persian kings, and scarce fruits at the close of the year Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma….
• Thursday (Jupiter): Foretells a moderate Nile flood exceeding seventeen cubits, profitable wheat trade, severe ruler-instigated fires in certain territories, perilous travel leading to fatalities, commodities remaining inexpensive from Tut to Kiyahk before becoming costly until Baramahat and cheap again in Bashans, high winter mortality, abundant fruits with spoiled grain, epidemics among women linked to Saturn's aspect toward Venus in its exaltation, and conflict between Arab and non-Arab rulers Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma….
• Friday (Venus): Associated with a blessed Nile, stable prices without inflation, abundant land and marine hunting, justice from the ruler, thriving crops, and an overall decrease in harm Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma….
• Saturday (Saturn): Foretells a strong Nile flood reaching eighteen cubits, high oil prices, epidemics among scholars, notables, and middle-class Arabs, concluding with favorable conditions at the end of the year Risala fi al-Nayruz mimma….