A Treasury of Virtues - (Library of Arabic Literature) by Al-Qā & ḍ & ī & Al-Quḍ & ā & ʿ & ī (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Insights into a life of integrity by a master of Arabic eloquence

A Treasury of Virtues is a collection of sayings, sermons, and teachings attributed to 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 40/661), the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, the first Shia Imam and the fourth Sunni Caliph. An acknowledged master of Arabic eloquence and a sage of Islamic wisdom, 'Ali was renowned for his eloquence: his words were collected, quoted, and studied over the centuries, and extensively anthologized, excerpted, and interpreted.

Of the many compilations of 'Ali's words, A Treasury of Virtues, compiled by the Fatimid Shafi'i judge al-Quda'i (d. 454/1062), arguably possesses the broadest compass of genres and the largest variety of themes. Included are aphorisms, proverbs, sermons, speeches, homilies, prayers, letters, dialogues, and verse, all of which provide instruction on how to be a morally upstanding human being. The shorter compilation included here, One Hundred Proverbs, is attributed to the eminent writer al-Jahiz (d. 255/869). This volume presents the first English translation of both of these important collections.

An English-only edition.

Review Quotes

"Powerful and compelling in its portrayal of the vicissitudes of fate and the inevitability of death and decay. Many of the translated aphorisms and wise sayings are equally powerful... Qutbuddins volume is well written and well executeda valuable addition to any scholars library"--Emily Selove "University of Manchester"

"The quality of the translation is superior and the choice of maxims is well advised, as they constitute a major category of Arabic (and also medieval European) literature, a genre with which modernreaders are not acquainted. This translation will introduce them to it."--Beatrice Gruendler "Yale University"

"Tahera Qutbuddins edition proves to be definitive A smooth presentation of the Arabic texts and a first-rate English translation."-- "Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies"

About the Author

al-Qāḍī al-Quḍāʿī (Author)
Al-Qāḍī al-Quḍāʿī (d. 454/1062) was a Sunni jurist, a scholar of hadiths and history, and a senior government official of the Fatimid dynasty in Cairo.

Rowan Williams (Foreword by)
Rowan Williams is the former Archbishop of Canterbury.

Tahera Qutbuddin (Translator)
Tahera Qutbuddin is Abdulaziz Saud AlBabtain Laudian Professor at the University of Oxford. She is the author of Arabic Oration: Art and Function.