Zahr al-Akam fi al-Amthal wa al-Hikam

Author died
1102 AH
Editions
al-Sharika al-Jadīda - Dār al-Thaqāfa

Zahr al-Akam fi al-Amthal wa al-Hikam (Arabic: زهر الأكم في الأمثال والحكم, lit. 'The Blossoms of the Hills on Proverbs and Maxims') is an Arabic literary and paremiographical treatise by the Moroccan scholar al-Hasan al-Yusi (1040–1102 AH / 1630–1691 CE) dedicated to Arabic proverbs and wisdom literature.

Scope and Composition

The book compiles and explains classical Arabic proverbs (amthal) and aphorisms (hikam), placing it within the broader tradition of Arabic paremiography alongside classic collections of the genre. Al-Yusi did not complete the work before his death. An early manuscript copy written in 1122 AH by Ali ibn Ahmad (Misbah) records at its conclusion that the text represents what was found of the work and that the author left it unfinished.

Manuscript Tradition and Editions

Manuscripts of Zahr al-Akam are preserved in various historical repositories, including the General Library in Rabat, Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyya in Cairo, as well as the National Library of Tunisia and the Ahmadiyya collection at the Zaytuna Mosque library in Tunis.

The work was edited by Muhammad Hajji and Muhammad al-Akhdar and published in Casablanca by Dar al-Thaqafa in 1401 AH / 1981 CE.

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