Encyclopedia of Philosophy: al-Dawani, Jalal al-Din

The Akhlaq-e Jalali is generally acknowledged to be a less satisfactory work than al-Tusi's, being weaker in argument and encumbered with anecdotal material (following the literary taste of the period) from both Greek (indirectly) and Islamic sources, being more 'Ciceronian', as its 1839 translator, W.F. Thompson, apologetically expressed it. It is therefore easier to admire the work for its style than for its intellectual rigour. Thompson's translation does not improve matters, thanks to its baroque literary style and ponderous sentiments. Apart from the Akhlaq-e Jalali, over seventy-five works by al-Dawani are recorded, covering the fields of philosophy, mysticism, theology and exegesis. Of particular interest to subsequent philosophers were his commentary on al-Suhrawardi's Hayakil al-nur (The Temples of Light), Shawakil al-hur fi sharh Hayakil al-nur (The Houri's Haunches in Commentary of the Temple of Light) and his series of glosses on the commentary by 'Ala' al-Din al-Qushji (d. AH 879/AD 1474) on al-Tusi's Tajrid al-kalam (Abstract of Theology). In both works he engaged with his contemporary Sadr al-Din al-Dashtaki (and subsequently the latter's son Ghiyath al-Din).