Al-Mufahris merges major library catalogues, old printed indexes and public digital sources into one database, delivered through a lightweight Telegram Mini-App: instant search, a record card of up to 57 fields, bookmark folders, critical-edition projects, and sharing a record as a clean image, with one-tap copy of any field.
Mukhtaṣar al-Muntahā al-uṣūlī
ArticlesʿAbd al-Rahman Jami: life, works and manuscripts in the world’s librariesThe life and works of Nur al-Din ʿAbd al-Rahman Jami, and over 17,000 manuscript copies of his writings in 865 libraries — from al-Fawaʾid al-Diyaʾiyya and Yusuf and Zulaykha to 451 copies made in his own lifetime.Read more →
ArticlesJalal al-Din al-Suyuti: life, works and manuscripts in the world’s librariesThe life and works of Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, the most prolific author of the Mamluk age, and over 23,000 manuscript copies of his writings in 740 libraries — from the Itqan and Tafsir al-Jalalayn to where they were copied.Read more →
ArticlesIbn Sina (Avicenna): life, works and manuscripts in the world’s librariesThe life and works of Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and over 8,600 manuscript copies of his writings in 470 libraries — from the Canon and the Shifaʾ to where they were copied.Read more →
ArticlesHow do we find the manuscript we are looking for?From bio-bibliographies and printed catalogues to union catalogues and online databases, and how Al-Mufahris shortens this long route.Read more →
ArticlesHow does Al-Mufahris connect unidentified manuscripts?Discovering another copy of an unidentified manuscript thanks to our database: a “Book on Arithmetic” in the Hakim and Razavi libraries.Read more →
ArticlesBetween catalogue volumes and the identity of works: who wrote al-Juman fi Mukhtasar Akhbar al-Zaman?Al-Maqqari al-Tilimsani or al-Shutaybi al-Zarwili? Examining the copies and a cautious conclusion.Read more →
Databases & SourcesNew in the Al-Mufahris database: the catalogue of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts (St Petersburg, Russia)About 11,000 records of Arabic titles; how to search and a note on data accuracy.Read more →ArticlesTranslation, the lifeblood of civilisations: from the House of Wisdom to the OttomansFor World Translation Day: two great waves of translation and works still unedited.Read more →Databases & SourcesYemeni library manuscripts in Al-Mufahris: the full list of record counts29,009 records from dozens of Yemeni libraries and collections; the count for each.Read more →
Search GuideThe research office: from a list of copies to a ready reportFive steps to build a critical-edition project, weigh witnesses and get a report.Read more →From databases and research tools to articles and scholar profiles: everything you need for manuscript work, in one place.
The life and works of Nur al-Din ʿAbd al-Rahman Jami, and over 17,000 manuscript copies of his writings in 865 libraries — from al-Fawaʾid al-Diyaʾiyya and Yusuf and Zulaykha to 451 copies made in his own lifetime.
Read more →A free tool built by a specialist editor of Islamic heritage texts around what manuscript researchers need; the best companion for the files you download from Al-Mufahris.
Read more →The life and works of Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, the most prolific author of the Mamluk age, and over 23,000 manuscript copies of his writings in 740 libraries — from the Itqan and Tafsir al-Jalalayn to where they were copied.
Read more →About 8,000 files from one of the most important Islamic manuscript collections in the Balkans, one click away; free on the Researcher plan.
Read more →A new collection in Al-Mufahris, with the manuscript files: one click to get them, free on the Researcher plan.
Read more →Rare copies whose files researchers have long needed, available right while you search.
Read more →The life and works of Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and over 8,600 manuscript copies of his writings in 470 libraries — from the Canon and the Shifaʾ to where they were copied.
Read more →Excluding words under the fields and choosing several countries at once: seven steps with one example, Ibn al-Ḥājib's Mukhtaṣar al-uṣūl.
Read more →From bio-bibliographies and printed catalogues to union catalogues and online databases, and how Al-Mufahris shortens this long route.
Read more →Found a copy that matters? Save it so you don't lose it, in two easy steps.
Read more →Three ways to take part, and thanks to those who corrected errors.
Read more →Discovering another copy of an unidentified manuscript thanks to our database: a “Book on Arithmetic” in the Hakim and Razavi libraries.
Read more →More than 600,000 records are linked to their files; three ways to get them.
Read more →A look at how the database has grown and the newly added collections.
Read more →29,009 records from dozens of Yemeni libraries and collections; the count for each.
Read more →About 11,000 records of Arabic titles; how to search and a note on data accuracy.
Read more →Five steps to build a critical-edition project, weigh witnesses and get a report.
Read more →New catalogues, advanced search, Excel export and access to manuscript files.
Read more →The project’s running costs, a bigger free plan, and how to try before you pay.
Read more →For World Translation Day: two great waves of translation and works still unedited.
Read more →Al-Maqqari al-Tilimsani or al-Shutaybi al-Zarwili? Examining the copies and a cautious conclusion.
Read more →Iranian records passed 500,000, including the complete second edition of the Dena catalogue.
Read more →From title and author to scribe, place of copying and holding country.
Read more →From one researcher's frustration to a digital index of over two million records.
Read more →Al-Mufahris has grown from a simple query box into a full workbench: from locating a copy to ranking witnesses and exporting a report.
The free plan searches only 5 fields; the Researcher plan searches 21 fields plus a total search across every field.
21 fields + total: ResearcherCollapsible sections, one-tap copy on any field, and a stable record code for citation. The free plan shows 28 fields; Researcher shows all 57.
28 free · 57 ResearcherThe share button builds a clean image and sends it to any Telegram chat, with a link back to the full record and one-tap copy of any field.
Both plansSave the copies that matter and come back to them: one folder of 10 records on the free plan, five folders of 100 records each on the Researcher plan.
Free · 5 folders for ResearcherGroup the copies of one work into a project, order the witnesses and pick a base copy — never touching catalogue data.
ResearcherScore each witness (age, collation, ijāza, completeness…) and get a suggested ranking — the app suggests, it never decides.
ResearcherExport search results or a whole project with every field into a ready-to-use Excel file.
ResearcherReport any mistake in a record; no correction is written to the catalogue without moderator approval.
Both plansShows the catalogue size and how many records the latest update added, at the top of the results page.
EveryoneMore than 600,000 records are linked to their files: an instant file in Telegram, a direct link to the library site, or an “Available in our archive” button to request it in one tap.
ResearcherIn the Researcher plan's total search you can pick the libraries or countries your keywords are searched in.
ResearcherArabic, Persian, English, Turkish and Urdu, selectable from inside the app.
EveryoneEvery step happens inside Telegram, and every result can be saved, shared and exported.
Open the app and type a title or an author; results appear collapsed and open one by one.
57 fields organised into sections: identification, author, copying & script, holding & source…
Save it to a folder, or add the copy to a project and weigh the witnesses against your criteria.
Share the record as an image in any chat, or export the whole project to Excel with its weighting report.
The record card is split into collapsible sections: identification, author, copying & script, holding & source, and more.
Locked fields are shown with a lock icon rather than hidden, so you know exactly what the subscription adds.
Paid with Telegram Stars, right inside the app. No card, no middleman.
* The 24-hour trial unlocks everything in the Researcher plan except Excel export and the weighting report, and is available once per account.
| Feature | Readerfree | Trial24 hours | Researcher250 / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search | |||
| Daily searches | 10 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Results per search | 50 | 200 | 200 |
| Searchable fields | 5 | 21 | 21 |
| Total search across all fields | |||
| Manuscript files | |||
| Limit total search to a library or country | |||
| Record card | |||
| Visible fields | 28 of 57 | 57 | 57 |
| Collapsible sections & field copy | |||
| Share record as an image | |||
| Daily share limit | 20 | 40 | 200 |
| Error reporting | 5 / 30 days | ||
| Researcher tools | |||
| Bookmarks | 1 folder · 10 records | 5 folders · 100 records | 5 folders · 100 records |
| Critical-edition projects | |||
| Weighting criteria & witness order | |||
| Weighting report | |||
| Excel export | |||
| Subscription | |||
| Duration | — | 24 hours | 30 / 90 days |
| Price | Free | Free | 250 / 500 |
No. Al-Mufahris runs inside Telegram; just open the Mini-App from the bot.
With Telegram Stars, inside the app: 250 Stars per month or 500 Stars for three months.
Yes — a full 24-hour trial, once per account, excluding Excel export and the weighting report.
Major library catalogues, old printed indexes and public digital sources, after field normalisation and cleaning.
Use the report button on the card. Nothing is written to the catalogue without moderator review; the table has exactly one writer.
No. A project is a layer on top of the index: your ordering and notes are yours alone, catalogue data stays untouched.
Al-Mufahris is a catalogue, not a digital library. Still, more than 600,000 records are linked to their files: an instant file in Telegram, a direct link to the library site, or a one-tap request if the file is in our archive (Researcher plan). Records that have no images at all have no file to offer.
Arabic, Persian, English, Turkish and Urdu.
Tap “Report an error” on the record card. Every report is reviewed, and no correction is written to the catalogue without a moderator's approval.
We release periodic updates (usually quarterly) that include corrections and new additions.
Yes. Send your request through the channel’s direct messages and we will try to reply as soon as possible. We send the results as an Excel file within a set period.
Through the channel’s direct messages. We welcome all your comments and questions.
No new account, no install — just open the app inside Telegram.
