The Book of Beginning

Abtidanameh is a mathnavi consisting of over ten thousand verses written by “Mohammad bin Mohammad Sultan Walad,” the eldest son of “Molana Jalal al-Din Mohammad Balkhi,” in the meter of “Hadiqa” by “Sanai Ghaznavi.” This mathnavi is regarded as the first of the trilogy of mathnavis by “Sultan Walad,” and with over ten thousand verses, it addresses the formation of the Molavi Order as well as the states and affairs of some individuals who walked this path. In an introduction provided by “Sultan Walad” in the preface of “Entehanameh,” his last mathnavi, he mentions that “Abtidanameh” was written concerning the life of his father “Molana Jalal al-Din Mohammad Balkhi,” “Shams Tabrizi,” “Salah al-Din Zarkub,” and “Hesam al-Din Chalabi.” In other words, in this mathnavi, “Sultan Walad” has addressed topics that remain among the most fascinating and noteworthy aspects of “Molana” and his companions’ lives today, while “Abtidanameh” encompasses the best and finest narratives of their stories. This version of “Abtidanameh,” edited by “Alireza Heidari” and “Mohammad Ali Moayyad,” is a valuable historical mathnavi that can be utilized to reflect and rediscover the story of “Molana” and “Shams Tabriz.” From a historical viewpoint, “Abtidanameh” provides the reader with the most firsthand and ancient accounts of the story of “Shams” and “Molana.” From an educational and instructional perspective, this mathnavi is considered a continuation of “Molavi’s” works but with content that reflects the interpretations of “Molana’s” closest companions of his teachings. Thus, studying “Abtidanameh” by “Sultan Walad” reveals the transformations after “Molavi” in the order established in his name.