al-Aqd al-Mufassal
- Author died
- 1304 AH
- Editions
- al-Aqd al-Mufassal
al-Aqd al-Mufassal (in full: al-ʿAqd al-mufaṣṣal fī qabīlat al-majd al-muʾaththal, "The Detailed Necklace on the Tribe of Ingrained Glory") is an Iraqi literary, anthological, and biographical work in prose and verse by the poet and writer Haydar al-Hilli (1246–1304 AH / 1831–1886 CE) .
Composition and Purpose
The book was conceived by Haydar al-Hilli to record panegyric poems and correspondence honoring his patron, Muhammad al-Hasan (Abu al-Hadi ibn Muhammad Salih al-Zaman) . The author gathered the poems he had composed in praise of him, adding panegyrics that both he and his uncle, Mahdi ibn Dawud, had composed for the patron's father and prominent members of his family, along with their reciprocal letters and epistles . At the patron's request, al-Hilli further incorporated a selection of his finest verses dedicated to other notable figures and diverse thematic purposes . To enhance its literary value, he interspersed the poetic selections with rhetorical embellishments, rare historical anecdotes, literary curiosities, and philological observations .
Structure and Scope
The work is organized systematically into three main divisions :
- Introduction (Muqaddima): Divided into thematic sections dedicated to the biography, noble ancestry, and virtues of the patron, accompanied by discussions of Arab onomastics, titles, and kunyas .
- Main Body: Comprises twenty-eight chapters (abwab), arranged according to the letters of the Arabic alphabet to classify the poetic rhymes and corresponding literary commentary; the second volume opens with the ninth chapter, covering the letter Dhal .
- Epilogue (Khatima): Concluding remarks terminating the collection .
Reception and Publication
The anthology received praise from contemporary scholars and literati. The biographer Hasan ibn Hadi al-Amili noted that the work bears testimony to al-Hilli's extensive learning and the breadth of his erudition . Formal poetic commendations (taqariz) were composed for the work by prominent literary figures of the era, including Muhammad Sa'id al-Habbubi, Muhammad ibn Mahdi al-Qazwini, and Abbas al-Saffar al-Zaburi .
The complete text was published in two volumes in Baghdad in 1331 AH (1913 CE) at Matba'at al-Shabandir .
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