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Epistle on Singing Girls
Arabic text, based on the Istanbul MS, with translation and commentary of the 9th century writer's Risalat al-Qiyan . The Epistle, which ironically purports to be a defence of the practices of singing-girls and their masters, is a vivid account, touched with humour, of this aspect of the social habits of the richer classes at that time.
- GenresNonfiction
104 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1980
40 people want to read
About the author
Al-Jahiz
133 books169 followersAl-Jāḥiẓ (Arabic: عمرو بن بحر الجاحظ)
Because of the caliphs' patronage and his eagerness to establish himself and reach a wider audience, al-Jāḥiẓ stayed in Baghdad (and later Samarra), where he wrote a huge number of his books. The caliph al-Ma'mun wanted al-Jāḥiẓ to teach his children, but then changed his mind when his children were frightened by al-Jāḥiẓ's goggle-eyes. This is said to be the origin of his nickname.
He enjoyed the patronage of al-Fath ibn Khaqan, the bibliophile boon companion of Caliph al-Mutawakkil, but after his murder in December 861 he left Samarra for his native Basra. He died there in late 868, according to one story, when a pile of books from his private library collapsed on him.
Most important books:
*Kitab al-Hayawan (Book of the Animals)
*Kitab al-Bukhala (Book of Misers) also (Avarice & the Avaricious)
*Kitab al-Bayan wa al-Tabyin (The Book of eloquence and demonstration)
*Risalat mufakharat al-sudan 'ala al-bidan (Treatise on Blacks)
Al-Jāḥiẓ returned to Basra with hemiplegia after spending more than fifty years in Baghdad. He died in Basra in the Arabic month of Muharram in AH 255/December 868-January 869 CE. His exact cause of death is not clear, but a popular assumption is that Jahiz died in his private library after one of many large piles of books fell on him, killing him instantly.
Because of the caliphs' patronage and his eagerness to establish himself and reach a wider audience, al-Jāḥiẓ stayed in Baghdad (and later Samarra), where he wrote a huge number of his books. The caliph al-Ma'mun wanted al-Jāḥiẓ to teach his children, but then changed his mind when his children were frightened by al-Jāḥiẓ's goggle-eyes. This is said to be the origin of his nickname.
He enjoyed the patronage of al-Fath ibn Khaqan, the bibliophile boon companion of Caliph al-Mutawakkil, but after his murder in December 861 he left Samarra for his native Basra. He died there in late 868, according to one story, when a pile of books from his private library collapsed on him.
Most important books:
*Kitab al-Hayawan (Book of the Animals)
*Kitab al-Bukhala (Book of Misers) also (Avarice & the Avaricious)
*Kitab al-Bayan wa al-Tabyin (The Book of eloquence and demonstration)
*Risalat mufakharat al-sudan 'ala al-bidan (Treatise on Blacks)
Al-Jāḥiẓ returned to Basra with hemiplegia after spending more than fifty years in Baghdad. He died in Basra in the Arabic month of Muharram in AH 255/December 868-January 869 CE. His exact cause of death is not clear, but a popular assumption is that Jahiz died in his private library after one of many large piles of books fell on him, killing him instantly.
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June 14, 2022well. i thought this was going to be about the training of qiyan in the 10th century abbasid court and was so delighted to have found a reputable translation. unfortunately this is 'guy discovers people think its bad he likes to look and to fuck. here's 106 reasons why its good and normal to do those things.' which like. more power to you, al-jahiz, but there really has been a Type of Guy around since the dawn of time lmao
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