Full Description
A unique and extraordinary collection, Desert Songs of the Night presents some of the finest poetry and prose by Arab writers, from the Arab East to Andalusia, over the last 1,500 years. From the mystical imagery of the Qur'an and the colourful stories of The Thousand and One Nights, to the powerful verses of longing of Mahmoud Darwish and Nazik al-Mala'ika, this captivating collection includes translated excerpts of works by the major authors of the period, as well as by lesser known writers of equal significance. Desert Songs of the Night showcases the vibrant and distinctive literary heritage of the Arabs. Beautifully produced, this is the ideal book for lovers of world literature and for those who seek an acquaintance with gems of Arab thought and expression.
Contents
Introduction Part I: The Pre-Islamic Period (Jahiliyya) The Mu'allaqat Ode of Imru al-Qais Ode of Labid Ka'b Bin Zuhair, Su'ad is gone al-Aswad Bin Yafur, Ode from the Mufaddaliyat al-Khansa, Lament for My Brother al-Tirrimah, In the Heart of the Desert Jamil, Oh, That Youth's Flower Anew Might Lift its Head Katari of Mazin, To His Own Soul 'Umar Ibn Abi Rabi'ah, Blame Me No More, O Comrades! Part II: The Islamic Age The Holy Qur'an The Opening Surah XIX: Mary Surah LIX: Exile Surah LXXXIX: The Dawn Hadith, Selected Sayings Shaybani's Siyar, The Islamic Law of Nations Part III: The Ummayad Dynasty al-Akhtal, Youth Departed but Often I Enjoyed It al-Farazdaq, Let all weep for al-Hajjaj Jarir, al-Farazdaq Visited the Folk of Hijaz Abd al-Hamid al-Katib, The Art of Secretaryship Ibn al-Muqaffa, The Rabbit and the Elephant Ibn Ishaq, The Prophet's Mission Bashshar Ibn Burd, Will No Emissary Be Found Part IV: The Abbasid Dynasty Rabia al-Adawiya, O My Joy and My Desire and My Refuge Abu Nuwas Four Things Thou Scolder of Grape and Me The Great Offence Hurry, for the Beergardens are Blooming Abu'l Atahiya Vanity: To Harun al-Rashid Surely Shall Fate Disjoint the Proudest Nose Virtue Cast an Eye at Me Coming al-Jahiz, The Book of Proof: Concerning Asceticism Abu Tammam, In Praise of the Caliph Mu'tasim al-Buhturi, Bodies of Water Like Horses Ibn Qutayba, Extracts from Uyun al-Akhbar Ibn al-Rumi The Chess Champion The Compromise He Defends Himself al-Tabari, The Battle of Badr al-Hallaj, Three Qasidas al-Razi, The Repelling of Grief al-Farabi, The City and the Household al-Mutanabbi Parting Has Just Taught Our Eyelids Separation Shame Kept My Tears Away Couplet How Glows Mine Heart Naught Kills the Noble like Forgiveness My Songs Gave Eyes to the Blind, Ears to the Deaf An Induction Here is the Final Stretch Abu Firas al-Hamdani Thy Fiercest Foe is One Thou Dost Not Fight Grief Amasses, Patience Scatters al-Tawhidi, Arabs and Non-Arabs al-Kalabadhi,The Sufi Doctrine of Vision al-Hamadhani, The Assembly of Qazmin al-Ma'arri From the Diwan From the Lazumiyat 'Tis Said That Spirits Remove by Transmigration In the Casket of the Hours Thou Art Diseased in Understanding and Religion Ibn Sina (Avicenna) Concerning the Temporal Origin of the Soul Epistle of the Soul On Prophecy al-Hariri, The Assembly of Damascus al-Ghazzali The Beginning of Guidance The First Duty of Brotherhood Ibn Rushd (Averroes) The Law Makes Philosophic Studies Obligatory Ibn Tufayl Hayy Admires the Work of the Creator Playing with Fire Ibn Arabi The Wisdom of Virtue in the Word of Luqman Whoso Knoweth Himself - Selections from Tarjuman al-Ashwaq Ibnu'l Farid The Meeting Lo, From Behind the Veil Mysterious Ibn Khallikan, Ja'far and al-Rashid Part V: al-Andalus - Arab Spain 195 Ibn Hazm Of Fidelity Of Betrayal Anxiety Twice Times Then is Now Ibn Zaydun, Poem to Wallada al-Mutamid, The Moon, The Stars, and a King Abu'l Hasan Ali ibn Hisn, The Pigeon Abus Salt, The Incense Burner Ibn al-Faras, Moon of Beauty Ibn Said, The Guardians Ibn Maimon (Moses Maimonides), Guide for the Perplexed Solomon ibn Gabirol, The Ethics of Solomon Gabirol Part VI: The Age of Depression Ibn Battuta, Across North Africa Ibn Khaldun Three Extracts from Muqaddimah A Sign of Royal Authority The Romance of Antar Antar Summoned From Mecca To Rescue Shas 'Abla's Treasure Restored The Arabian Nights The Story of the Envier and the Envied Men in the Judgment of their Wives Adventure of the Caliph Haroon al-Rusheed Part VII: al-Nahda - Renaissance of Arabic Literature Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi, The Virtues of the Arabs Ahmad Shawqi From Act I of Majnun Layla The Feast of Time An Andalusian Exile Hafiz Ibrahim, Elegy to Mustafa Kamil Khalil Mutran, The Arab Awakening Ilya Abu Madi Envoi Life and Love Gibran Kahlil Gibran The Poet From a Speech by Khalil the Heretic Ameen Rihani Light 302 Supplication: A Prayer Mikhail Naimy A New Year Comrade! Taha Hussein An Egyptian Childhood From The Stream of Days Abbas al-Aqqad, Drinking Song May Ziadah, Rejoice Mahmud Taymur, The Fare Tewfiq al-Hakim, Song of Death Part VIII: Modern Arabic Literature Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi I Weep for Love To the Tyrant Naguib Mahfouz, An Unnerving Sound Khalil Hawi, The Bridge 'Abd al-Wahhab al-Bayati, Apology for a Short Speech Salah 'Abd al-Sabur, The Tatars Attacked Mahmoud Darwish Pride and Fury Promises from the Storm Adonis, Iram the Many-Columned Badr Shakir al-Sayyab, A City Without Rain Yusuf al-Khal, The Deserted Well Muhammad al-Fayturi, Sorrow of the Black City Nazik al-Mala'ika Who Am I? Five Hymns to Pain Mona Fayad, Whisper Salma al-Khadra al-Jayyusi Without Roots In the Casbah Fudwa Tuqan A Prayer to the New Year In the Flux Mai Sayigh, Departure Nizar Qabbani Bread, Hashish and Moonlight Poems May Rihani, The Wedding of My City Antoine Raad, A Poet's Treasure Henri Zoghaib, This Is The Now Notes About the Authors Acknowledgements About the Editors
