Miscellany Writing

Cover image of the book "al-Kashkul by al-Shaykh al-Baha'i", one of the most famous books written in the miscellany genre.

Miscellany Writing (Arabic: الكتابة الكُشْكُوليّة), the practice of compiling diverse and scattered materials into a single work, is an early literary method used by Shi'a scholars. Unlike conventional works focused on a single topic, miscellany writing brings together anecdotes, reflections, religious notes, historical observations, literary pieces, and scientific points, giving it a unique place in the history of written culture. This style gradually became a format for recording knowledge and presenting general information to audiences who may not have the time for lengthy, subject-focused works. Its combination of varied content, simple prose, and different poetic forms made these works both educational and engaging.

Etymology and Meaning

In Islamic works, this style is called Kashkul. The term "Kashkul" (Persian: کشکول) literally refers to a container or bowl carried on the shoulder, traditionally used by wandering dervishes in Persia. The word is composed of "Kash" meaning "to carry or pull" and "Kul" meaning "shoulder". Dervishes used the kashkul to collect donations, offerings, or small objects from people they met, so that over time it came to contain a wide variety of items, giving it the character of a vessel for miscellaneous objects.

Because of this, the term was later applied metaphorically to books that contained diverse, unconnected subjects without a fixed structure. Just as a physical kashkul held assorted items, a Kashkul book gathered knowledge, stories, anecdotes, poems, and reflections in a single volume, often without strict thematic order.

In Arabic, the concept was adopted as الكُشْكُوليّة (al-kitābah al-kushkūlīyah), borrowing directly from Persian. In English, it is usually translated as "miscellany", emphasizing its role as a compilation of varied and scattered content.

History and Significance

Miscellany writing has a long-standing presence among Shi'a scholars and has influenced the broader writing culture. Scholars such as al-Allama al-Hilli (7th/13th century) are known to have had a Kashkul book, although no trace of it remains. Scholars like al-Shaykh al-Baha'i also adopted this approach, using miscellanies not only to preserve scattered information but to provide general knowledge to readers with limited time.

Some stories found in Kashkuls do not appear in other sources, making these works important for understanding popular culture and intellectual life.

Definition and Nature

Miscellany writing allows authors to record observations, stories, and knowledge that do not fit conventional formats, creating a single collection that functions like a container for diverse information. In practice, miscellanies may include religious texts such as Quranic exegesis and Prophetic traditions, along with stories, poems, scientific notes, and entertaining anecdotes. The content is usually presented in simple, fluent prose, and various poetic forms such as Mathnawi, Qasida, Ghazal, and Mustazad are often included.

Goals and Benefits

Miscellany writing serves multiple purposes. It helps prevent the loss or fragmentation of knowledge, provides accessible general education for readers with limited time, and offers an engaging, instructive experience that can relieve study fatigue. The brevity and diversity of content, combined with a flexible structure, make these works appealing across different audiences and time periods.

Content Features

Miscellanies are characterized by:

• A mix of subjects from literature, history, religion, science, and popular culture.
• Simple and accessible language.
• Inclusion of diverse poetic forms and literary genres.
• A lack of strict thematic or structural order, giving authors freedom in selection and arrangement.

Notable Examples

Many scholars created miscellanies inspired by this tradition. Some prominent works include:

• Kashkul-i 'Attari by 'Attar Nishapuri
• Kashkul al-Ahsa'i by Ahmad al-Ahsa'i
• Al-Kashkul fima jara 'ala Al al-Rasul by Sayyid Haydar Amuli
• Al-Kashkul by Yusuf b. Ahmad al-Bahrani
• Kashkul by Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin al-'Amili
• Al-Kashkul by Agha Buzurg Tehrani
• Kashkul-i Dastghayb by Sayyid 'Abd al-Husayn Dastghayb
• Kashkul-i Hikmat by Ali Mishkini
• Kashkul-i Zaman by Ali Panah Ishtihardi
• Kashkul-i Darwishi by Muhammad Asif Muhsini
• Al-Kashkul by Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi al-Khirsan

These works illustrate the enduring influence of miscellany writing as a flexible, informative, and entertaining literary form, reflecting the cross-cultural transfer of terminology: from Persian "kashkul" (a shoulder-carried container for diverse items) to Arabic الكُشْكُوليّة, and then to English as "miscellany," capturing both the literal and metaphorical sense of a vessel for varied content.