The discovery of this volume in Istanbul by Antoine Galland on 14 January 1673 was noted by him in his diary. The book was bought for the collection of the famous French minister Colbert (1619 – 1683). Colbert was passionate about all religious books and this one, concerning Muhammad and his mi‘raj, or miraculous journey to Heaven, was really unique. The manuscript then joined the library of the King of France in 1732.
In 1882, the French scholar Abel Pavet de Courteille published a French translation of the text of the Mi‘raj-nama, and in 1889 – 1890 the translation of the Turkish version of Tazkirat al-awliya which formed the second part of the manuscript Supplément turc 1902. This translation was made possible thanks to the efforts of Jean-Pierre Abel-Rémusat (1788 – 1832), who was able to decipher the Uighur script.
You can learn more about the topic in the book-album "Illustrated manuscripts from Mawarannahr in the collections of France" (Volume XXIX) in the series "The Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan".
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Treasure in the collection of a French minister
The extremely interesting manuscript entitled Mi‘raj-nama is as important for linguists as for art historians and historians of religions.