Nuzhat al-zahid

Together with Shaykh Tusi's (d. 460/1067) Misbah al-mutahajjid and ?Ali al-Tamimi's (early 6th/12th cent.) Dhakhirat al-akhira, the anonymous Nuzhat al-zahid (ca. 600/1200) is among the oldest surviving testimonies of Du?a? literature among the Shi?a. As such, it can be regarded as a connecting link between Tusi and the later tradition of Shi?i Du?a? literature, after Ibn Tawus (d. 664/1266). The Nuzhat al-zahid is important because besides Tusi's Misbah it also uses other older sources, which often allows the author to provide much more detail than him, adding new material as well. In this sense, the Nuzhat al-zahid can truly be regarded as a major reference in its field. It is a complete work, covering all the aspects of petitionary prayer in the life of the believer. Written in the sweet kind of language of its times, its explanations constitute a fine example of medieval Persian spiritual prose.