Sayd al-Afkar fi al-Adab wa al-Akhlaq wa al-Hikam wa al-Amthal
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- Sayd al-Afkar fi al-Adab wa al-Akhlaq wa al-Hikam wa al-Amthal
Sayd al-Afkar fi al-Adab wa al-Akhlaq wa al-Hikam wa al-Amthal (Capturing Thoughts on Literature, Morals, Wisdom, and Proverbs) is a compendium of ethical literature, proverbs, and wisdom compiled by the Yemeni jurist Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Mahdi .
Composition and Publication
The work was authored by Judge Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Mahdi, a member of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Yemen, and reviewed by Abd al-Hamid Muhammad al-Mahdi . It was registered and deposited with the Yemeni Ministry of Culture through Dar al-Kitab under deposit number 449 for the year 2009 CE, published in two volumes .
Purpose and Scope
The author compiled the work to offer moral counsel (munasahat al-ikhwan), bring joy to readers, encourage virtuous character, and guide interpersonal conduct . The book brings together selections from classical Arabic poetry, proverbs, historical narratives, moral testaments, admonitions, and supplications . These literary selections are paired with citations from the Quran, Prophetic hadiths, sayings of the Companions, the Prophet's household (Ahl al-Bayt), and scholars and researchers, alongside original proverbs coined by the author following classical patterns .
Structure and Method
The book is structured into thematic chapters (fusul) addressing distinct ethical and social themes . The first volume concludes with chapters covering topics such as injustice and divine justice, truthfulness (Chapter 27), friendship and companionship (Chapter 28), and noble character traits (Chapter 29) .
In presenting the material, the author adopted an intermediate approach between exhaustive exposition and excessive brevity, avoiding abstract philosophical digressions that could cause reader weariness . He emphasized balancing substantive content (al-maddah) with eloquent formulation (al-siyaghah), regarding the two as inseparable elements akin to the relationship between the body and the soul .
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