Masa'il al-Intiqad
- Author died
- 460 AH
- Editions
- Masa'il al-Intiqad
Masa'il al-Intiqad (Questions of Criticism), also known as Rasa'il al-Intiqad or Risalat al-Intiqad, is an Andalusian-era Arabic literary treatise composed in the style of a maqama by the North African poet and critic Ibn Sharaf al-Qayrawani (d. 460 AH / 1067–1068 CE) . Written in rhymed prose (saj'), the work provides concise critical assessments and impressions of Arabic poets and their verse spanning from the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyya) to the author's contemporary age .
Background and Identification
The work is presumed to have been written following Ibn Sharaf's departure from Kairouan and his arrival in al-Andalus . In classical sources, Ibn Bassam recorded in al-Dhakheera that Ibn Sharaf composed maqamat in emulation of Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamadhani, highlighting one lengthy maqama devoted to anecdotes of literati and evaluations of poets . Yaqut al-Hamawi similarly listed Risalat al-Intiqad as a distinct work composed in the manner of a maqama .
The text was preserved across multiple manuscripts, including a codex held at the Escorial library (No. 536) and an earlier Tunisian manuscript comprising multiple maqamat . In 1926 (1344 AH), Amin al-Khanji published the treatise under the title A'lam al-Kalam, erroneously treating it as identical to Ibn Sharaf's lost literary collection of that name . Hasan Husni Abd al-Wahhab and Muhammad Kurd Ali published it as Rasa'il al-Intiqad in Majallat al-Muqtabas and Rasa'il al-Bulagha' . A modern critical edition titled Masa'il al-Intiqad, accompanied by a French translation, was later produced by Charles Pellat (Algiers, 1953) .
Structure and Literary Character
The treatise adopts the literary frame of narrative discourses (ahadith), drawing on the stylistic traditions of Ibn Durayd and al-Hamadhani, and represents one of the earliest preserved manifestations of the maqama genre in the Islamic West . The text opens with general theoretical guidance for literary criticism, advising critics against succumbing to initial impressions and urging them to reflect deeply upon the underlying meaning (ma'na) rather than judging verses solely by their external phrasing (lafz), asserting that meanings are akin to spirits while words are their bodies . Ibn Sharaf also warns against uncritical bias toward ancient poetry simply on account of its antiquity, urging fair judgment for contemporary poets .
Critical Content
Rather than presenting detailed theoretical proofs or technical analyses, the work delivers brief, rhythmic characterizations and moral-artistic appraisals of prominent poets :
- Imru' al-Qays: Ibn Sharaf faults him for explicitly depicting indecency and fornication, taking a stance akin to Abu Bakr al-Baqillani and maintaining that morally shameful expressions constitute severe poetic flaws .
- Abd Bani al-Has-has: Condemned for his base character and for boasting of illicit relations in his verse .
- Abu Nuwas: Characterized as having abandoned earlier norms and turned seriousness into jest, captivating readers whose literary stamina had grown weary .
- Ibn al-Rumi: Praised as an inventive stylist while censured for excessive satire (hija'), which Ibn Sharaf viewed through an ethical lens as a burden on the poet's moral account .
- Al-Mutanabbi: Described as occupying the attention of literary circles, giving rise to zealous partisans who exaggerated in praise and harsh critics who collaborated to disparage him .
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