Islamic ethics. Jalal al-Din al-Dawani (d. 1502) was a philosopher, poet and theologian of late 15th-century Persia, who was also a jurist and sadr (religious supervisor) in Shiraz and chief judge of the Fars region during his lifetime.

Akhlaq'e Jalali is primarily a treatise on ethics that was completed in c.1475, and apparently took almost a decade to compile. The work was dedicated to Uzun Hasan, ruler of the Turkoman Aq Qoyunlu State from 1452-1487, and commissioned by Uzun Hasan's son and successor Sultan Khalil (governor of the Persian province during his father's reign). This is the first major Islamic ethical treatise to come to western notice after Akhlaq'i Naseri (the 13th century epic philosophical treatise by Tusi), which is the only notable predecessor to this work. Akhlaq'i Jalali was immensely popular in Persia and surrounding regions and became so influential in India that it was a standard text in their education system right until the end of the British rule in 1947. Despite the influence and popularity of this text, it's only English translation is the 1839 W. F. Thompson edition (Practical Philosophy of the Muhammadan People, Oriental Translation Fund, London), which is a 'relaxed' edition of the text and not a true verbatum translation. A true scholarly edition of this text in English is yet to be published.

Single volume, illuminated manuscript on polished paper, in Farsi, complete, 190 leaves, 195 by 115 mm; single column, 12 lines elegant scribal black naskh, illuminated head-piece opening the text, decorated in gilt and polychrome, leaves ruled in blue and gold, catch-words throughout, later ownership inscriptions to reverse of first leaf, stamp of Mehdi Bayani to verso of final folio, some ink smudges and occasional light water-staining; contemporary decorated leather over boards with flap, corner pieces and central cartouches cut-out with elegant filigree detailing in red against a gilt background, edges rubbed, slight loss to leather on lower cover, early paper label to spine.