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The Epistle of Forgiveness: Volume One: A Vision of Heaven and Hell (Library of Arabic Literature) Hardcover – August 23, 2013

by Abu l-Ala al-Maarri (Author), Geert Jan Van Gelder (Translator), Gregor Schoeler (Translator)

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One of the most unusual books in classical Arabic literature, The Epistle of Forgiveness is the lengthy reply by the prolific Syrian poet and prose writer Abu l-ʿAlaʾ al-Maʿarri (d. 449 H/1057 AD), to a letter written by an obscure grammarian, Ibn al-Qarih. With biting irony, The Epistle of Forgiveness mocks Ibn al-Qarih's hypocrisy and sycophancy by imagining he has died and arrived with some difficulty in Heaven, where he meets famous poets and philologists from the past. He also glimpses Hell, and converses with the Devil and various heretics. Al-Maʿarri—a maverick, a vegan, and often branded a heretic himself—seems to mock popular ideas about the Hereafter. This book, the first of two volumes, includes Ibn al-Qarih’s initial letter to al-Maʿarri, as well as the first half of The Epistle of Forgiveness.

This translation is the first complete translation in any language and retains the many digressions, difficult passages, and convoluted grammatical discussions of the original typically omitted in other translations. It is accompanied by a comprehensive introduction and detailed annotation. Replete with erudite commentary, amusing anecdotes, and sardonic wit, The Epistle of Forgiveness is an imaginative tour-de-force by one of the most pre-eminent figures in classical Arabic literature.

The Epistle of Forgiveness: Volume One: A Vision of Heaven and Hell (Library of Arabic Literature)

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The Epistle of Forgiveness: Volume Two: Hypocrites, Heretics, and Other Sinners (Library of Arabic… by Abu l-Ala al-Maarri Hardcover $40.00
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Leg over Leg: Volume One (Library of Arabic Literature) by Ahmad Faris al-Shidyaq Hardcover $40.00
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Product Details

Series: Library of Arabic Literature
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Library of Arabic Literature; Bilingual edition (August 23, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0814763782
ISBN-13: 978-0814763780
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,003,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #171 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Regional & Cultural > African
- #312 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Middle Eastern
- #227831 in Books > Reference

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The Doyen of Rationalist Thought in the Arabic Language

By Mikhail B on March 8, 2015

Format: Hardcover

Al-Ma'arri was one of the great skeptics/atheists in Arabo-Islamic civilization and represented a critical cultural outlook that would be foreign both to today's Islamophobes and Muslim fundamentalists. This work represents one of his best achievements, his savage send up of heaven and hell and what supposedly awaits man there. In his day, Al-Ma'arri was a true rebel who challenged social orthodoxies and mocked the pieties of the Muslim society of his day, including the triumphalist belief in the finality of Islam, indeed of all revealed religion. And most importantly, he did it for no expectation of reward or fame, unlike many sensationalist atheist poseurs of Muslim background like Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Irshad Manji, Wafa Sultan, etc. That the Al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front beheaded his statute during the current Syrian conflict is telling. I recommend all people interested in Arab history to pick this up for an alternative perspective about pre-modern Arabic thought.

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I'm very impressed by the work and personality of Al ...

By BQ on February 27, 2016

Format: Hardcover

I'm very impressed by the work and personality of Al Maarri. One can draw a comparison between him and Nietzsche and I would say "The Epistle of Forgiveness" is a masterpiece that might have influenced Dante Alighieri's work "Devine Comedy".