Tahsin al-Qabih wa Taqbih al-Hasan
- Author died
- 429 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Arqam ibn Abī al-Arqam
Tahsin al-Qabih wa Taqbih al-Hasan (Beautifying the Reprehensible and Vilifying the Commendable) is an Arabic literary and rhetorical treatise by the philologist and anthologist Abu Mansur al-Thaalibi (350–429 AH / 961–1038 CE) of Nishapur . The work gathers selections of prose and poetry illustrating rhetorical paradoxes through the twin literary arts of praising what is conventionally disdained and censuring what is generally praised .
Composition and Purpose
Al-Thaalibi composed the work for the library of the patron Abu al-Hasan Muhammad ibn Isa al-Karaji and dedicated it to his name, also invoking blessings for his patron's son, Abu al-Majd Abd al-Qadir . In his preface, al-Thaalibi explained that the ability to present the ugly as fair and the fair as ugly represents the pinnacle of eloquence (balaghah), verbal dexterity, and stylistic artistry (sihr al-sina'ah) . He also stated his belief that no earlier author had preceded him in producing a standalone compilation devoted specifically to this literary device .
Structure and Method
Rather than adopting a didactic pedagogical framework with formal definitions, al-Thaalibi structured the treatise around curated literary and poetic excerpts that enable the reader to appreciate stylistic wit and aesthetic nuances . The book covers diverse thematic subjects through chapters demonstrating either the beautification of the reprehensible or the vilification of the commendable .
Among the topics treated in the work are:
- Beautifying occurrences traditionally seen as bad omens (tahsin ma yutatayyaru minh) .
- Softening and refining vices through metonymies and euphemisms (tahsin al-maqabih bi-al-kinayat) .
- Literary justifications or commendations of falsehood (tahsin al-kadhib) and impudence (tahsin al-waqahah) .
- Praising sin and the hope for forgiveness (tahsin al-ithm) as well as poverty (tahsin al-faqr) .
- Censuring eunuchs (taqbih al-khisyan) .
Manuscripts and Editions
Manuscripts of the book are preserved in several collections, including the Feyzullah and Ragıp Pasha libraries in Istanbul, the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, and the Arif Hikmat Library in Medina . In some manuscript witnesses, the title appears with the phrasing inverted as Taqbih al-Hasan wa Tahsin al-Qabih . A Persian translation of the work was made by Muhammad al-Sawi . A modern critical edition edited by Shakir al-Ashur was published in Baghdad by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs in 1981 CE .
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