ابوالحسن سیرجانی و کتاب «بیاض و سواد»

Khaje Abolhasan Ali Sirjani’s Al-Bayaz va Al-Savad is one of the primary sources of Sufism; and equals some books like Kashf Al-Mahjub by Ali Ibn Osman Hojviri, and Imam Qoshairi’s Resale. Even in some aspects it is better than these books. Having used four of its manuscripts, Dr. Hosein Pourmokhtār edited this book; and it has recently been published by Iran Philosophy Research Institute. Dr, Nasrollah Pourjavādi has written an English preface to the book in order to introduce the book. In this preface, he, first of all, talks about Sirjāni’s biography and works; and then he discusses the sources used by Sirjāni, the form, content, and the special features of the book. Since this preface is the most technical text ever written on Al-Bayaz va Al-savad, the author of the present essay intends to provide a translation of it. .