Man Ghaba Anhu al-Mutrib
- Author died
- 429 AH
- Editions
- al-Matba'ah al-Adabiyyah
Man Ghaba Anhu al-Mutrib (He Who Lacks an Entertaining Singer) is an Arabic literary anthology (adab) compiled by the Nishapuri philologist and man of letters Abu Mansur al-Tha'alibi (350–429 AH / 961–1038 CE) . It gathers curated selections of poignant and pleasing prose and poetry designed to delight and move its readers .
Overview and Purpose
The book is considered by literary scholars to be a supplement or sequel (dhayl) to al-Tha'alibi's earlier anthology Ahsan ma Sami'tu (The Best I Have Heard) . The governing principle of compilation stated within the work is that selections must possess an enrapturing quality (itrab), going beyond mere curiosity or admire-worthy style to offer pieces that genuinely exhilarate the listener or reader . It serves as a companion of refined entertainment, compiling exquisite expressions and aromatic imagery across themes such as descriptions of nature and spring (rabi'iyyat), love poetry (ghazaliyyat), wine poetry (khamriyyat), and fraternal communications (ikhwaniyyat) .
Structure and Content
The anthology is organized into thematic chapters (abwab) and subsections (fusuul), presenting pairings of prose passages and poetic selections on each subject :
- Calligraphy and Eloquence: The opening chapter (al-Bab al-Awwal) treats the description of handwriting, eloquence, and related themes (wasf al-khatt wa-l-balaghah wa-ma yajri majrahuma) . It features sections illustrating fine penmanship, eloquent speech, laudable epistles and books, and descriptions of poetry, presenting exemplary passages in both prose and verse .
- Nature and Song: Later sections examine evocative themes such as the singing of birds among tree branches (ghina' al-atyar 'ala al-ashjar) alongside convivial and descriptive verses .
Throughout the work, al-Tha'alibi draws upon a wide array of prominent writers, poets, and statesmen, frequently quoting al-Sahib Ibn 'Abbad, Ibn al-Mu'tazz, Abu Ishaq al-Sabi, Abu al-Fath al-Busti, Abu Bakr al-Sanawbari, Kushajim, al-Buhturi, and Ibn Nubatah, as well as including verses composed by himself .
Manuscripts and Editions
Manuscripts of the book are preserved in collections such as the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh and the National Library of Tunisia (where a copy is registered under the variant title Man Ghaba 'alayhi al-Mutrib) .
The work has been printed in multiple editions, including an early printing in Beirut (1309 AH / 1891–1892 CE), a critical edition prepared by Abd al-Mu'in al-Malluhi (1987), and an edition edited by Yunus Ahmad al-Samarra'i .
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