The RatTO Saybs' Collection, with Annotated TJ-anslation of Astronomy Manuscript A
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Date
2013-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The thes is deals with the manusc ripts in the coll ection of the Harro Sayl]s in Agarfa , Bale zone,
Oromia region. The co ll ection includes many printed books and also seven manuscripts. The
I-Iarro Sayl]s have played many roles in Arsi-Bale, as teachers. reli gious leaders, public figu res,
and mediators in contlict resolution.
The aim of this thesis is to present a handli st of the seven manuscripts in the Harro Sayl]s'
co ll ection. !t has six chapters. The first chapter contains an introduction with literature review on
the history of Islam ization of Bale and in Ethiopia generall y. The second chapter gives the
biographi es of the I-Iarro Sayl] s. The th ird chapter is a catalogue of the seven manuscri pts, with
pa rti cul ar emphasis given to one untitled manuscript with numerous sub-titles (including
astronomy) and to the loose sheets, which include a text wi thout diacritics. The fourth chapter is
a discussion of selected themes having to do with women: l:!u! bat al-Nika\:I (The Marriage
Sermon) and documents from two non-Agarfa women who had a connection with the I-Iarro
Sayl]s, i.e. SittTna Alawiya (1892-1940) and 'Nisa Bint IA IT Sultan Gomma. The fitih chapter,
which is the heart of the thes is, prese nts the astronomy tex t contained in the untitl ed manLiscript,
with Arabic tex t, tran slat ion and annotation. The last chapter contains conclusion and
recommendati on .
The !-Iano Sayl)s' collection was completely unstudied prior to this th es is, and is currently
fo rgo tten even by the guardians of the collectio n. I hope that the stud y will be a bridge fo r furth er
stud ies of manusc ripts in the collection and a stim ulus to examine previously un studicd topics of
Ft hi opian Arabic manuscripts such as astronomy.
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Keywords
Harro Sayijs, Collection