Preservation of works by scholars from the Kazakh steppe in Egyptian libraries
From July 12-20, 2025, as part of the scientific project AP22686474 "Anthology of Arabic-language sources of Kazakh steppe thinkers in world archives," project leader Azamat Shutbayevich Zhamashev undertook a scientific trip to Egyptian cities. He conducted research in libraries and museums with manuscript collections, visited important historical and cultural centers, and exchanged views with qualified specialists and researchers.
The purpose of the trip was to study the environment that influenced the formation of scholars as individuals based on sources found in Egypt, analyze data related to the peculiarities of their education, and meet with researchers. Working with archival databases in Cairo and Alexandria, figures from the Kazakh steppe and their works were collected, and materials for the anthology are being prepared.
I researched the manuscript collections and paper and electronic catalogs of Egypt's largest manuscript library, "Dar al-Kutub al-Misriya," al-Azhar Library, Maktaba al-Awqaf, Cairo University's Oriental Studies Center, and Oriental studies libraries. We interviewed and exchanged experiences with library specialists and manuscript scholars. We participated in a seminar on "The Specifics of Reading Islamic Manuscripts" by Professor Yusuf Hindawi of Cairo University and received a certificate.
From the catalogs of manuscript and rare book collections at the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts, we found works related to the foundations of early religious education in the Kazakh land and philosophical and logical works. For example: Amir Katib Itkani's works "Ghayat al-bayan," "ash-Shamil," "Rafgh al-yadayn" on fiqh, "Qasida as-safa"; Alauddin al-Ispijabi's "Sharḥ mukhtasar al-Tahāwī"; Kerderis: Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Kardari's "al-Fatawa al-bazzaziya," "Manaqib al-imam al-azam," "ar-Radd ala al-Ghazali wa al-Juayni," Shamsulaimma Muhammad's "Mukhtasar," Muhammad ibn Ibrahim's "Sharkhu Manzuma fi al-aqaid," Farabis: al-Jawhari's "Sihah," Ishaq al-Farabi's "Diwan al-adab," Abu Nasr al-Farabi's "Qiyas," "al-Awsat al-kabir," "al-Musika al-kabir," several versions of "al-Mabadi," "Ittifaqu ra'i al-hakimain Aflatun wa Aristu," "Risala al-huruf," "Tahsil as-sa'ada," "Isbat al-mufaraqat," "Masail mutafarriqa," etc.
We searched for materials related to the research topic in the Library of Alexandria: works on history, ethnography, art, ethics, culture, and philosophy were reviewed based on electronic and paper catalogs. An international book exhibition was organized at the Library of Alexandria from July 7-21. As part of the exhibition, we attended Dr. Fatahiya al-Faraji's seminar "Writing of Literary Biographical Works" on 18.07.2025. Thus, we found numerous manuscript copies, met with library and manuscript researchers, and achieved positive results within the project framework.
