Lubab al-Adab lil-Thaalibi
- Author died
- 429 AH
- Editions
- Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah
Lubab al-Adab (The Core of Belles-Lettres) is an Arabic literary and rhetorical compilation by the philologist and author Abu Mansur al-Thaalibi (350–429 AH / 961–1038 CE) of Nishapur .
Content and Structure
The work is an anthology of literary prose, rhetorical expressions, epistolary formulas, maxims, and stylistic models arranged across distinct thematic divisions (aqsām) and chapters (abwāb) .
A substantial portion of the text addresses statecraft and sovereign affairs (al-Sulṭāniyyāt), beginning with formulaic models for opening doxologies (ghurar al-taḥāmīd), blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, praises of the Prophet's household, and invocations of the Quran . It includes stylized descriptions and praises concerning the Caliphate and the Sultanate, administrative virtues, the administration of justice, royal magnanimity, and governance .
Manuscripts and Editions
Manuscript copies of Lubab al-Adab are preserved in several international repositories, including the Berlin State Library and the Esad Efendi collection in Istanbul .
A modern printed edition was edited by Ahmad Hasan Layj and published by Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah in Beirut in 1417 AH / 1997 CE . The book shares its title with another prominent work of Arabic literature, Lubab al-Adab, authored by Usama ibn Munqidh (d. 584 AH) .
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