Nujat al-Ra'id wa Shirat al-Warid fi al-Mutaradif wa al-Mutawarid
- Author died
- 1324 AH
- Editions
- Maṭbaʻat al-Maʻārif
Nujat al-Ra'id wa Shirat al-Warid fi al-Mutaradif wa al-Mutawarid (The Seeker's Grazing Ground and the Visitor's Watering Hole on Synonyms and Parallel Expressions) is a two-volume Arabic thematic thesaurus composed by the Lebanese scholar and linguist Ibrahim al-Yaziji (1263–1324 AH / 1847–1906 CE) .
Purpose and Methodology
Al-Yaziji designed the work as a specialized lexicon of synonyms and stylistic variants arranged by conceptual themes, intended to serve the needs of writers, poets, and translators . Rather than compiling an exhaustive inventory of archaic vocabulary, he restricted his selection to eloquent and accessible Arabic terms (al-fasih al-ma'nus), encompassing single words, compound phrases, and both literal and metaphorical expressions balancing elegance and gravity . The book stands as a modern culmination of the classical tradition of phraseological and synonym collections, gathering distinguished expressions from ancient and later literary heritage up to the author's era .
Structure and Contents
The work is organized into twelve main thematic chapters (abwab), each subdivided into multiple sections (fusal) :
- Creation and Innate Human Nature (al-Khalq wa dhikr ahwal al-fitra wa ma yattasilu biha) .
- Instincts and Faculties (Wasf al-ghara'iz wa al-malakat) .
- Physical and Natural States (al-Ahwal al-tabi'iyya) .
- Movements and Emotions of the Soul (Harakat al-nafs wa infi'alatuha) .
- Origins, Lineages, and Social Classes (al-Usul wa al-ansab wa al-tabaqat) .
- Knowledge and Literature (al-Ilm wa al-adab) .
- Social Interactions, Companionship, and Livelihood (Ahwal wa af'al shatta mimma ya'ridu fi al-ulfa wa al-mujtama' wa al-taqallub wa al-ma'ash) .
- Management of Affairs and Their Characteristics (Mu'alajat al-umur) .
- Governance, Authority, and Social Discord (al-Sa'is wa al-wazi' wa ma ya'ridu fi al-mujtama' min al-futuq wa al-fitan wa tadarukiha) .
- The Earth, the Atmosphere, and Natural Phenomena (al-Ard wa jawwuha) .
- Time and Its Vicissitudes (al-Dahr wa ahwaluh) .
- Eschatological Matters (al-Shu'un al-ukhrawiyya) .
Al-Yaziji planned to compile a third volume to complement the two existing parts, but he died before commencing its drafting .
Publication
The work was printed in Cairo by Matba'at al-Ma'arif in 1904–1905 CE in two volumes . Another two-volume edition was issued at Matba'at al-Qiddis Bulus in Harisa, Lebanon, in 1913 CE .
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