Anthology of Islamic Literature: From the Rise of Islam to Modern Times

by James Kritzeck

Covering over thirteen centuries of Islamic writing, this quintessential anthology contains the most important and seminal works of the Islamic world. Told from all types of storytellers from different classes and cultures, these stories encompass the people and spirit of the fasting growing religion in the modern world.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Literature

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

Reviews

[James Violand · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with all anthologies, the reader must realize that the selection of works and authors is determined by someone expert in the field. That does not mean that the reader will like all the selections. To me, this anthology has led me to want to read the works of Jahiz, Attar, Khaldun and Jami. I found the excerpts of these authors to be very interesting.

[Tatyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He who has money can eat sherbet in hell."
- Lebanese proverb

"My soul on your lips, my eyes on your speech."
- Saadi (1210-1291), from “Is that full moon veiled …”

"Her eyebrows, like beautiful writing,
Carry off my heart."
- Saadi (1210-1291), from “Is this spring wind …”

"Return, because sorrowing over you,
My eyes are a thousand springs of water."
- Saadi (1210-1291), from “Is that full moon veiled …”

[EIJANDOLUM]

“A twisting curl
Hung down, to hurl
My heart of bliss
To the abyss.”

Al-Husri

[Eva Kenworthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[Lulu]

THE KORAN: SCRIPTURE AND LITERATURE -- Meccan Chapters -- Medinan Chapters -- EARLY ARABIC POETRY -- Odes -- Poems from Early Anthologies -- PROVERBS -- The AGE OF THE CALIPHS (632-1050) -- Historical Summary -- The Monkey and the Tortoise / Ibm Al-Muqaffa -- The Prophet Mohammed / Ibn Ishaq -- The New Poets -- Clever Sayings / Al-jahiz

Flies and Mosquitoes -- The Crucifixion of a Mystic / Al-Hallaj -- Two Poems / Rudaki -- Lauds / Al-Mutanabbi -- Sufi Sayings / Al-Kalabadhi -- Rustam and Sohrab / Firdawsi / Doubts / Al-Maarri -- Falling in Love / Ibn Hazm -- Anxiety -- Moorish Poetry

TURKS, FRANKS, AND MONGOLS (1050-1350) -- Historical Summary -- Advice to Governors / Nizam Al-Mulk -- The Purchase of Slaves / Kai Kaus -- Quatrains / Umar Khayyam -- Confessions of a Troubled Believer / Al-Ghazzali -- Encounters in Oriental Cities / Al-Hariri -- Samarkand -- Tiflis -- Samarqandi : Stories About Persian Poets

Rudaki -- Firdawsi -- Umar Khayyam -- Alone on a Desert Island / Ibu Tufayl -- A Moslem View of the Crusades / Usamah -- A Pilgrimage to Mecca / Ibn Jubayr -- Star-crossed Lovers / Nizami -- The Demon and the Sage / Al-Warawini -- The Bird Parliament / Attar -- Love Poems / Rumi -- Illustrations -- Morals / Sadi

ISLAM'S NEW WORLD (1350-1800) -- Historical Summary -- The Muldive Islands / Ibn Battutah -- Ten Odes / Hafiz -- Group Solidarity / Ibn Khaldun -- Conversations with Tamerlane -- The Romance of Antar: Antar Slays a Lion -- The Thousand and One Nights: The Tale of the Three Apples -- Maruf the Cobbler -- The Women of Memphis / Jami -- Memoirs of a Conqueror / Babur -- The Year 1502 -- The Year 1526 -- Mogul Poetry -- Tobacco / Hajji Khalifah -- Coffee -- Bribery / Sari Mehmed Pasha -- Ottoman Poetry -- ❗️The Bloody Popular / Karagöz

[Alexander Rolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was no Arabian Nights, but I though the part on rhyming prose was cool.

[Abbas Idris]

This is an amazing book.

[Michi Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this when I was young and the beauty of the writing really floored me. Of course so much is lost in translation, but the poetry of the language still comes through. I will re-read this several more times, I'm sure. It truly should be appreciated.