Verses of Shahnameh in the Book of Khalq al-Insan by Bayan al-Haq Neyshabouri

The oldest version of the Shahnameh (The Epic of Kings) dates back to 614 AH, 214 years after the time of its completion at 400 AH. However, a variety of chapters and verses of the Shahnameh have been remained in some ancient historical and literary sources from this period. Among these is an Arabic book entitled Khalq al-Insan(The creation of Humans) by Bayan al-Haq Neyshabouri (died in 521 AH) which has quoted 54 instructive verses for the interpretation of a verse from the Holy Qur'an. The current study compares these verses to the Shahnameh edited by Jalal Khaleghi Motlagh and manuscripts used in his edition, some other copies as well as the book of Ikhtiarat Shahnameh (474 AH), and it discusses some records. Based on the research findings, Bayan al-Haq has derived the verses of Shahnameh from Ikhtiarat Shahnameh, not from the copy being studied.