al-Muraqqisat wal-Mutribat
- Author died
- 685 AH
- Editions
- al-Muraqqisat wal-Mutribat
al-Muraqqisat wal-Mutribat (The Stirring and Enchanting Verses), also titled ‘Unwan al-muraqqisat wal-mutribat, is an anthology and critical work of Arabic poetry and rhymed prose by the Andalusian historian and man of letters Ibn Sa'id al-Maghribi (610–685 AH / 1214–1286 CE) .
Composition and Purpose
Ibn Sa'id originally set out to compose a comprehensive literary collection titled Jami' al-muraqqisat wal-mutribat, intended to encompass material gathered from his grand regional surveys, al-Mashriq fi hula al-Mashriq and al-Maghrib fi hula al-Maghrib . As interest in the larger project mounted and literary figures repeatedly requested access to it before its completion, he compiled this abridged work as an introductory guide and entry point to the intended compendium .
In his introduction, Ibn Sa'id rejected the view that poetic excellence was exclusive to earlier generations or confined to a particular land, arguing instead that eloquence flourished across both the Islamic East and West throughout every era .
Critical Framework and Structure
The book is organized around a five-tier aesthetic classification of poetry and prose defined by Ibn Sa'id :
- al-Muraqqis (the stirring or dance-inducing): Pieces marked by genuine invention (ikhtira') or near-inventive refinement (tawallud) that instinctively captivate listeners and stir deep emotional resonance .
- al-Mutrib (the enchanting or moving): Verses falling slightly short of complete invention but retaining a distinct touch of artistic novelty (ibtida') .
- al-Maqbul (the acceptable): Eloquent poetry distinguished by surface elegance (talawah) without relying on deep conceit or elaborate metaphor .
- al-Masmu' (the listenable): Conventional poetry adhering to correct meter and rhyme without offending natural taste .
- al-Matruk (the discarded): Clumsy or dissonant verses that burden the ear and taste .
In al-Muraqqisat wal-Mutribat, Ibn Sa'id restricted his selections almost exclusively to the two highest tiers, al-muraqqis and al-mutrib, including only select rhymed prose and capping the poetic anthology at no more than one thousand verses to facilitate memorization .
The material is structured chronologically by centuries and divided geographically between authors of the East (al-Mashriq) and the West (al-Maghrib and al-Andalus), covering figures from pre-Islamic and early Islamic times through the Umayyad and Abbasid eras down to the seventh century AH .
Editions
al-Muraqqisat wal-Mutribat was printed in Cairo by Matba'at Jam'iyyat al-Ma'arif in 1286 AH / 1869 CE . It was later published with an edition and French translation by Abdelkader Meddad in Algiers in 1949 .
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