Ahmad Qabash
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Ahmad Qabash (fl. 1391–1399 AH / 1971–1979 CE) was an author and scholar of Arabic literature based in Damascus, known for his compilations and studies on Arabic verse.
Scholarly Contribution
Active in Damascus during the late fourteenth century AH (twentieth century CE), Qabash focused on the documentation and thematic organization of Arabic poetry. He authored Tarikh al-Shi'r al-'Arabi al-Hadith ("History of Modern Arabic Poetry"), published in Damascus in 1391 AH / 1971 CE.
He later compiled Majma' al-Hikam wal-Amthal fi al-Shi'r al-'Arabi ("Compendium of Wisdom and Proverbs in Arabic Poetry"), completing its preface in Damascus on 1 January 1979 CE. In this reference work, Qabash arranged poetic maxims across twenty-eight chapters corresponding to the letters of the Arabic alphabet, ordering entries within each chapter alphabetically by their subsequent letters according to their surface form rather than underlying lexical roots. His editorial method prioritized placing the thematic word at the opening of the poetic line, or selecting verses whose core meaning explicitly revolved around the designated topic.
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List of Works
Majma al-Hikam wal-Amthal fi al-Shiir al-Arabi is a thematic dictionary of didactic and proverbial verse. Designed as a dedicated reference for poetic wisdom, it organizes collected verses alphabetically across twenty-eight chapters corresponding to the letters of the Arabic alphabet.