Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi

Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi (On Literary Criticism) is a critical study written by the modern scholar Ali Ali Subh, completed on 30 Ramadan 1420 AH (7 January 2000 CE), exploring classical Arabic literary criticism and its foundational concepts Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi.

Scope and Purpose

The work traces the development of Arabic critical heritage from its earliest beginnings, examining how classical critical theories and debates serve as the foundational roots for modern Arabic literary criticism Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi+1. Subh highlights the formation of distinct poetic and prose trends across Islamic history—ranging from traditionalists adhering to the poetic canon to innovators, the muwalladun, and practitioners of the badi' style, alongside prose traditions founded by figures such as Abd al-Hamid al-Katib, Ibn al-Muqaffa', al-Jahiz, and Ibn al-Amid Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi. He emphasizes that modern literary movements, such as the Neo-classical revival (al-Ba'th wa-l-Ihya'), the Apollo group, and the Diwan school, represent subsequent historical stages built upon these classical roots Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi.

Structure and Contents

The book is arranged into two main divisions (aqsam):

First Part: The Arab Poetic Canon in al-Amidi's al-Muwazanah

This part focuses on the concept of the poetic canon ('amud al-shi'r) and its application in the critical method of Abu al-Qasim al-Hasan ibn Bishr al-Amidi in his comparative work al-Muwazanah bayna Abi Tammam wa-l-Buhturi Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi+1. It contains three major sections (abwab):

• Al-Amidi the Literary Critic: Outlines al-Amidi’s life, his education in Baghdad, his critical methodology, literary taste, methods of textual verification, and the structural arrangement of al-Muwazanah Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi+1.
• The Arab Poetic Canon Among Critics: Analyzes the concept of 'amud al-shi'r, its artistic criteria across diction (lafdh), meaning (ma'na), and syntactic construction (nazm), and contrasts classical adherence with modern departures led by contemporary literary groups Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi+1.
• The Poetic Canon and Literary Comparisons: Investigates al-Amidi's treatment of the literary borrowings and alleged thefts (sariqat) of Abu Tammam and al-Buhturi, evaluating charges of critical bias alongside aspects of impartiality in al-Amidi’s judgments Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi.

Second Part: Issues of Meaning, Diction, Style, Image, Imagination, and Music

This part investigates key theoretical questions in Arabic critical discourse across two extended chapters Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi:

• Bishr ibn al-Mu'tamir's Treatise: Studies the early critical treatise of Bishr ibn al-Mu'tamir (Sahifat Bishr ibn al-Mu'tamir), exploring its standing, its treatment of innate talent versus learned craft, the role of emotion, meter and rhyme, contextual appropriateness (muqtada al-hal), artistic sincerity, and poetic formulation Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi.
• Classical Critics and Critical Issues: Traces the evolution of artistic imagery and related aesthetic values across classical authorities, analyzing the views of al-Jahiz, Ibn Qutaybah, Ibn Tabataba, Qudamah ibn Ja'far, al-Amidi, al-Qadi al-Jurjani, Abu Hilal al-Askari, al-Baqillani, Ibn Rashiq, and Ibn Sharaf al-Qayrawani Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi+1. It culminates in an extensive examination of Abd al-Qahir al-Jurjani's theory of construction (nazm), imagery, and literary influence Fi al-Naqd al-Adabi+1.