al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa al-Mashmum wa al-Mashrub

al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa al-Mashmum wa al-Mashrub (The Lover, the Beloved, the Fragrant, and the Drink) is an Arabic thematic anthology compiled by the poet and man of letters al-Sari al-Raffa (d. 362 AH / 973 CE; other reported death dates include 366 AH and several variant years) Mujam al-Muallifin+1. The book collects fine selections from the poetry of modern (muhdathun) poets spanning love poetry (ghazal), floral and spring descriptions (zahriyyat), aromatics, and wine poetry (khamriyyat) Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a…+1.

Method and Purpose

In his introduction, al-Sari al-Raffa outlines the aesthetic criteria guiding his compilation al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa…. He emphasizes harmony between graceful vocabulary and fine meanings, preferring fluent eloquence over artificiality (takalluf), strain (istikrah), or obscurity (ta'qid) al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa…. The work was conceived as a collection of memorable short pieces (muqatta'at) suited for social gatherings, conversation, memorization, and comforting the solitary al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa…+1.

Al-Sari notes that within major parts of the book, he deliberately avoided breaking every theme into narrow sub-chapters, arguing that rigid categorization forces an anthologist to incorporate mediocre verses merely to fill out prescribed headings al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa….

Structure and Contents

The compilation is organized into four main sections (referred to as four "books" in the text) matching the four elements of its title al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa…+1:

• The Beloved and the Lover (al-Mahbub wa al-Muhibb): This section opens with poetic depictions of physical beauty, including detailed descriptions of facial features, hair, eyes, cheeks, lips, voices, and bodily posture al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa…+1. It transitions into verses portraying the emotional states of lovers, the trials of passion, fidelity, the sorrow of separation, union, and dealings with censors and watchful spies (ruqaba') al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa…+1.
• The Fragrant (al-Mashmum): Devoted to nature and scent, covering the spring season, lightning, rainclouds, breezes, running streams, garden flowers, and aromatic plants (rayahin) al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa…. It also treats perfumes—such as musk, ambergris, camphor, aloeswood, and perfumed pastes (ghawali)—while citing Arabic linguistic derivations and poetic usages al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa….
• The Drink (al-Mashrub): Treats wine, including its various names and linguistic roots, proverbs associated with it, vineyards, the pressing and maturing of wine, drinking vessels, and gatherings with cupbearers and companions al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa….

The text concludes at the end of the fourth section with verses reflecting on youth, aging, and gray hair (al-shayb), including lines by the poet Ibn al-Rumi al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa….

Manuscripts and Editions

Manuscripts of al-Muhibb wa al-Mahbub wa al-Mashmum wa al-Mashrub are preserved in several libraries:

• Leiden University Library (MS Or. 559, containing 228 folios, copied in 646 AH or 648 AH) Mujam Tarikh al-Turath al…+1.
• Vienna Imperial Library (MS 359, containing 220 folios, copied in 1015 AH) Khizanat al-Turath - Fihr…+1.
• Şehid Ali Pasha Library in Istanbul (MS 92/28) Khizanat al-Turath - Fihr….

The work has been published in modern editions, including one edited by Misbah Ghalawanji and Majid al-Dhahabi (printed by the Academy of the Arabic Language in Damascus in 1986 / 1404 AH) Bughyat al-Talab fi Tarik…+1, and an earlier edition published in Baghdad in 1982 Mujam Tarikh al-Turath al….