Copy of Ebussuûd Efendi's Tafsir "İrşâdü'l-akli's-selim ilâ mezaya'l Kitâbi'l-Kerim" and the Oldest Manuscript

In this article we will focus on the original manuscript of Abus-suud's monumental work Irshād al-‘aql al-salīm ilā mazāyā al-Kitābi'l-Kerim and its reliable copies which were written in his life under his control. In the first chapter we will give short biography of Ebussuud, pointing especially to the relevant parts of it with writing processes of his exegesis Irshād al-‘aql al-salīm, while in the second chapter we will go far to the historical background of the Irshād, trying to explore its writing reason, completing pro-cesses, handling in the historical sources, reliable manuscripts and author handwritten copy, which was managed to reach up today. Irshād al-‘aql al-salīm is the magnum opus of Ebussuûd Efendi that brought him reputation and prestige in particular, achieving great relevance in scientific and political circles, which become soon the most popular exegesis after Keşşaf and Envârü't-Tenzilthroughout the Ottoman territories. Reconstructing of the Qur'an's especially literal subtleties in a new style worthy of the divine revelation's verbal and literary beauties with the purpose of being donated to the rich library of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, Ebussuud started writing his commentary a year after he was appointed for the office of Sheikh al-Islam approximately at 6 Rebiülevvel 953 (May 7, 1546) and could not complete it owning to his intensive religious, admin-istrative and political engagements until the 3 Rajab 973 (Janu-ary 24, 1566) after 20 years 103 days (7303 days). The Author's handwritten copy with 5 volumes is being protected today in the Beyazit State Library (First volume is missing).The Original handwriting copy of Irshad was stayed with Ebus-suud effendi throughout his life. After his death it passed to his younger son Mustafa Chalabi as a precious heritage, which was transferred after him to his son Mohamed the Kazasker and after him to his son Mohamed Sadik Efendi. It seems that this heritage was transferred by away to Grand Vi-zier Kara Mustafa Pasha (d. 1095/1683) who was Mehmed Sadık Efendi's contemporary. Soon the Grand Vizier donated it as to be put in the library which would be built in the complex that he launched building in the Çarşıkapı quarter of Istanbul. The Books of this library were transferred in the period of the Turk-ish Republic firstly to the Nuruosmaniye library and later to the Beyazit State Library.