Ghidha al-Arwah bil-Muhadatha wal-Mizah
- Author died
- 1033 AH
- Editions
- Al-Jaffān wa-al-Jābī lil-Ṭibā‘ah wa-al-Nashr; Dār Ibn Ḥazm lil-Ṭibā‘ah wa-al-Nashr wa-al-Tawzī‘
Ghidha al-Arwah bil-Muhadatha wal-Mizah (Nourishment of Souls through Conversation and Jesting) is an Arabic literary work on the ethics, etiquette, and anecdotes of humor by the Hanbali scholar Mari al-Karmi (d. 1033 AH / 1624 CE) .
Purpose and Content
Al-Karmi composed the treatise to explain both the praiseworthy and blameworthy forms of jesting (al-mizah), and to compile anecdotes that dispel sorrow, refine social interaction (al-mu‘ashara), and provide wholesome entertainment in friendly gatherings (al-musamara) . He argued that the soul requires periodic recreation just as the body needs rest, and that pleasant conversation and lighthearted humor among sincere companions are like nourishment for the soul .
The work defines acceptable humor as that which remains free of vulgarity, malice, backbiting, and the compromise of personal dignity (muru'ah) . Al-Karmi noted that when intended to foster warmth, humility, and camaraderie without ridicule, jesting can even be commendable . To establish this, he cited reports and prophetic traditions illustrating how the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions joked without uttering falsehood . The text brings together:
- Prophetic instances of lightheartedness, such as the Prophet’s remarks about carrying someone on "the offspring of a camel" or his jest with an elderly woman that "no old woman enters Paradise" .
- Humorous escapades of Companions, notably the practical jokes of Nu'ayman al-Ansari involving Uthman ibn Affan, Abu Bakr, and others .
- Sayings, poetic verses, and anecdotes from early caliphs, scholars, and literary figures, including Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, Khalid ibn Safwan, Abu Nuwas, and Abu al-Fath al-Busti .
- Anecdotes concerning poets such as al-Farazdaq, along with tales of simpletons and burdensome people (al-thuqala') .
Sources and Composition
A substantial portion of the material corresponds directly to al-Murah fil-Muzah by Badr al-Din al-Ghazzi (d. 984 AH / 1576 CE), which al-Karmi drew upon extensively, sometimes citing al-Ghazzi anonymously as "one of them said" (qala ba'duhum) . Among the other works explicitly cited by al-Karmi are Kitab al-Aghani by Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani, al-Tadhkira al-Hamduniyya by Ibn Hamdun, and Khulasat 'Iqd al-Durar .
Manuscripts and Publication
A manuscript copy of the work is preserved in the Garrett Collection at Princeton University Library (MS 2041) . The book was edited by Bassam Abd al-Wahhab al-Jabi and published in Beirut by Dar Ibn Hazm in 1418 AH / 1997 CE .
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