al-Qadi al-Quda'i

Tahera Qutbuddin (translation)

Paperback, 196 pages

English-only edition

9781479896530

 

A Treasury of Virtues is a collection of sayings, sermons, and teachings attributed to 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 40/661).

 

An acknowledged master of Arabic eloquence and a sage of Islamic wisdom, 'Ali was renowned for his eloquence: his words were collected, quoted, and studied over the centuries, and extensively anthologized, excerpted, and interpreted.

 

Of the many compilations of 'Ali’s words, A Treasury of Virtues, compiled by the Fatimid Shafi'i judge al-Quda'i (d. 454/1062), arguably possesses the broadest compass of genres and the largest variety of themes. Included are aphorisms, proverbs, sermons, speeches, homilies, prayers, letters, dialogues, and verse, all of which provide instruction on how to be a morally upstanding human being. The shorter compilation included here, One Hundred Proverbs, is attributed to the eminent writer al-Jahiz (d. 255/869). This volume presents the first English translation of both of these important collections.

 

Contents:

 

1. Wise Sayings

 

2. Censure of this World and Exhortations to Reject Worldliness

 

3. Counsel

 

4. Prescriptions and Proscriptions

 

5. 'Ali's Questions with Answers, and 'Ali's Answers to Questions

 

6. Sayings with Unusual Words

 

7. Unique Sayings and Pithy Words

 

8. Prayers and Supplications

 

9. Verse

 

10. One Hundred Proverbs of al-Jahiz