Treasury of Muslim Literature THE GOLDEN AGE (750-1250 CE)

Dr. Freda Shamma, Editor

amana publications Beltsville, Maryland, USA Table of Contents

Preface X1

Acknowledgments xiii

Note to the Reader xv

Introduction xvi

Joha's Address to Youth xviii

Timeline 1

PART ONE: Hie Muslim World 750-850 CE (132-235 AH) 5-63

1. Imam Abu Hanifa 11

Abu Hanifa and the Atheist 13 Fiqh al-Akbar 16

2. Malik Ibn Anas 18 Joha's Hints 20 Muwattd: The Witr Prayer 21

Joha and Insha Allah (The Arab Joha) 23

3. Rabi'a al-Adawiya of Basra 25 Some Sayings of Rabi'a 27

4. Ibn al-Muqaffa 29 Kalila wa Dimna: What the Birds Know 31 The Raven and the Snake 33

v Treasury of Muslim Literature: The Golden Age (750-1250 CE)

5. Mohammed Idris al-Shafi'i 39 Reliance ofthe Traveler. Slander 42

Joha and Gossip 50

6. Al-Jahiz 51 Essay: Hie Disadvantages of Parchment 53 Essay: Superiority of the Blacks to the Whites 55 Essay: The Friend 57

7. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal 58 Developing Humility in Prayer 60

PART TWO: Hie Muslim World 850-1000 CE (235-390 AH) 64-161

8. Al-Bukhari 68 Sahih al-Bukhari 5:245: Abu Bakr 70

Joha and the Moon 76

9. Abu Husain al-Muslim 77 Sahih Muslim-.

964. From the Book on Characteristics of the Prophet3H 79 971. Hatred of Sin 80 986. Follow the ProphetiH 81

Joha and the Basket 82

10. Al-Tirmidhi 83 Interpreting the Self. The Autobiography of al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi 83

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11. Ibn al-Marzuban 88

The Book ofthe Superiority ofDogs over Many of Those Who Wear Clothes 89

12. Al-Tabari 94 The History ofthe Prophets and the Kings:

Vol. 1: From the Creation to the Flood: 96 The Events that took place in Null's time 97 Vol 32: The Events of the Year 208 (823 CE) 101 The Events of the Year 218 (833 CE): The Time of al-Ma'mun's Death 102

13. Al-Razi 103 Spiritual Physick: Of Repelling Anger 104 Of Repelling Excessive and Hurtful Anxiety and Worry 105

14. 107 The Unique Necklace (%l- 'Iqd al-Farid) 109

Mullah Nasruddin (The Persian Joha) and the Miser 115

15. IbnFadlan 216 Risala• Journey to Russia Rus/Rusiya (Vikings) 117

16. Al-Mas'udi 223 Meadows ofGold: Address to the Reader 123 VII: 1 The Caliphate of al-Ma'mun 125 VII: 26 The Caliph and the Poet 125 VII: 33 The Caliphs Cooking 127 IX: 38 Final words at the end of the book 128

vii Treasury of Muslim Literature: The Golden Age (750-1250 CE)

17. A Thousand and One Nights 131 The Tale of the Envier and the Envied 133 Sindbad 136

18. Al-Mutanabbi 148

Panegyric to Saif al-Dawla on his departure from Antioch 149 Elegy on the death of the mother of Saif al-Dawla 150

19. Abul Qasem Ferdausi 153

Shah Nameh - Epic ofthe Kings: The Story of Sohrab 154

PART THREE: The Abbasid Period of Political Decline 1000-1250 CE 162-320

20. Al-Biruni 166 The Existent Monuments ofthe Bygone Centuries: On the Festivals of the Muslims 167

Nasruddin Hodja and the 47th of Ramadan (The Turkish Joha) 173

21. Al-Mawardi 174 Ordinances ofGovernment: Selection 175

Goha Judges a Dispute (The Egyptian Joha) 178

22. IbnSina 179 Autobiography 179

Mullah Nasruddin's Wise Advice 186

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23. IbnHazm The Ring ofthe Dove: Of Falling in Love at First Sight 189 Of the Helpful Brother 192

*95 24. Al-Bakri The Book ofRoutes and Realms: Ghana 196

202 25. Nizam al-Mulk The Book ofGovernment: Advice to Governors 204

208 Nasruddin Hodja and the Missing Donkey

26. Umar al-Khayyam 209 RubiyyaP. Selections 210 Treatise on Demonstrations of Problems of Algebra 215

Nasruddin Hodja in the Bakery 216

27. Al-Hariri 217 Maqamat 218

28. Al-Ghazali 226 Ihya 'Ulum al-Din: On the Duties of Brotherhood 227

29. Samarqandi 237 Chahar Maqala (The Four Discourses): Selections 237

30. Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani 246 Revelations ofthe Unseen: 18th Discourse: On Not Complaining 249

ix Treasury of Muslim Literature: The Golden Age (750-1250 CE)

31. Usama Ibn Munqidh The Book ofReflections: Observations on the : Selection 252

32. Ibn Tufayl Hayy Ibn Yaqzam Selection 260

Mullah Nasruddin and his Guests

33. Farid iid-Din Attar The Conference ofthe Birds: Selections 273 The Pious Wife 278

34. Travels ofIbn Jubayr. The Month of Rajab the Unique in Makkah 291

35. The Setting and Telling of the Epic ofSundiata: Selections

36. Arab and Andalusian Poetry

JOHA AND THE PRINCE'S POETRY

Appendices A. 322 B. Other important writers during Abbasid times 324 C. Index of Names 326

D. Index of Places 332

Bibliography

Illustration Credits

x