Qudāma ibn Jaʿfar al-Kātib al-Baghdādī (Arabic: قدامة بن جعفر الكاتب البغدادي; c. 873 – c. 932/948), was a Syriac scholar and administrator for the Abbasid Caliphate.
Little is known with certainty about Qudama's life and work. He was probably born ca. 873/874, possibly at Basra. His grandfather was a Syriac Christian. Whether it was his grandfather, or he himself, who converted to Islam under al-Muktafi bi-Allah in ca. 902–908 is unclear.[1] Ibn al-Nadim described him as a master of literary style, a polished writer and distinguished philosopher of Logic despite having an uneducated father.[2] He held various junior administrative positions in the caliphal secretariat in Baghdad, and eventually rose to a senior post the treasury department. Various dates for his death have been supplied, ranging from 932 to 939/940 and 948.[3][4]
Worksedit
Of his several books on philosophy, history, philology, and administration, only three survive:
the Kitab al-Kharaj (كتاب الخراج -the Book of the Land Tax, in full form Book of the Land Tax and the Art of the Secretary), for which Qudama is chiefly known. The last four sections of the original eight[n 1], survives. It was written after 928 as a manual for administrators, and deals with the structure of the state and the army, as well with geographic details, including valuable accounts on the Caliphate's neighbours, especially the Byzantine Empire. It also included a now lost section on literary rhetoric.[6][7]
the Kitab al-Alfaz (Book of Words) or Jawahir al-Alfaz (Jewels of Words), a compilation of synonyms and phrases for the use of poets and orators, as well as containing an introduction on the figures of speech.[6]
the Kitab Naqd al-Shi'r (كتاب نقد الشعر -Book on Poetic Criticism), an essay and guide on composing good poetry.[8]
The Cleanser ("Sabun" or "soap")of Sorrow (كتاب صابون الغمّ)
Dismissal of Anxiety (كتاب جلاء الحزن)
Epistle about Abu 'Ali ibn Muqlah known as "The Brilliant Star" (كتاب الرسالة في أبي علي بن مقلة وتعرف بالنجم الثاقب)
Withstanding Grief (كتاب صَرف الهمّ)
Wines of Thought (كتاب درياق الفكر فيما عاب به أبا تمام)[n 2]
Book of Unconsciousness (كتاب جلاء الحزن)
Book of Politics (كتاب السياسة)
Refutation of Ibn al-Mu'tazz (كتاب الردّ على ابن المعتز)
The Pleasure of Hearts and the Provision of the Traveller (كتاب صناعة الجدل وكتاب نزهة القلوب وزاد المسافر)
To Ibn Jaʿfar was once also attributed the Naqd al-nathr, now known to be the Kitāb al-Burhān fī wujūh al-bayān of Ibrāhīm ibn Wahb al-Kātib.[10]
Notesedit
^Al-Fihrist indicates that Qudama added a ninth section, however the BeattyMS contains a marginal note, perhaps a correction; "seven stages to which he added an eighth"[5]
^P. Shinar, “Ibn Wahb”, in Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd edn ed. by P. Bearman and others, 12 vols (Leiden: Brill, 1960-2005), doi:10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_8678.
Masudi (al-), Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husayn (1871). Kitab Muruj al-Dhahab wa-Ma'adin al-Jawhar (Les Prairies d'or). Vol. 1. Translated by Bernard de Meynard & P de Courteille. Paris: Imprimerie nationale. p. 17.
Nadim (al-), Ishaq ibn (1970). Dodge, Bayard (ed.). The Fihrist of al-Nadim A Tenth Century Survey of Muslim Culture. Vol. 1. New York & London: Columbia University Press.
Taghri-Birdi, Abu al-Mahasin Yusuf. Popper, William (ed.). Al-Nujum al-Zahirah fi Muluk Misr wa-al-Qahirah. Vol. III. Cairo: Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyah. pp. 297–298.
qudama, qudāma, jaʿfar, kātib, baghdādī, arabic, قدامة, بن, جعفر, الكاتب, البغدادي, syriac, scholar, administrator, abbasid, caliphate, katib, baghdadiborn873, 874basra, diedc, 948baghdad, academic, workeraislamic, golden, abbasid, school, traditionislamic, su. Qudama ibn Jaʿfar al Katib al Baghdadi Arabic قدامة بن جعفر الكاتب البغدادي c 873 c 932 948 was a Syriac scholar and administrator for the Abbasid Caliphate Qudama ibn Ja far al Katib al BaghdadiBorn873 874Basra Diedc 932 948Baghdad Academic workEraIslamic Golden Age Abbasid era School or traditionIslamic Sunni Main interestsIslamic geography Land Tax Philosophy History AdministrationNotable worksBook of Land Tax and Art of the Secretary Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Notes 4 References 5 SourcesLife editLittle is known with certainty about Qudama s life and work He was probably born ca 873 874 possibly at Basra His grandfather was a Syriac Christian Whether it was his grandfather or he himself who converted to Islam under al Muktafi bi Allah in ca 902 908 is unclear 1 Ibn al Nadim described him as a master of literary style a polished writer and distinguished philosopher of Logic despite having an uneducated father 2 He held various junior administrative positions in the caliphal secretariat in Baghdad and eventually rose to a senior post the treasury department Various dates for his death have been supplied ranging from 932 to 939 940 and 948 3 4 Works editOf his several books on philosophy history philology and administration only three survive the Kitab al Kharaj كتاب الخراج the Book of the Land Tax in full form Book of the Land Tax and the Art of the Secretary for which Qudama is chiefly known The last four sections of the original eight n 1 survives It was written after 928 as a manual for administrators and deals with the structure of the state and the army as well with geographic details including valuable accounts on the Caliphate s neighbours especially the Byzantine Empire It also included a now lost section on literary rhetoric 6 7 the Kitab al Alfaz Book of Words or Jawahir al Alfaz Jewels of Words a compilation of synonyms and phrases for the use of poets and orators as well as containing an introduction on the figures of speech 6 the Kitab Naqd al Shi r كتاب نقد الشعر Book on Poetic Criticism an essay and guide on composing good poetry 8 The Cleanser Sabun or soap of Sorrow كتاب صابون الغم Dismissal of Anxiety كتاب جلاء الحزن Epistle about Abu Ali ibn Muqlah known as The Brilliant Star كتاب الرسالة في أبي علي بن مقلة وتعرف بالنجم الثاقب Withstanding Grief كتاب ص رف الهم Wines of Thought كتاب درياق الفكر فيما عاب به أبا تمام n 2 Book of Unconsciousness كتاب جلاء الحزن Book of Politics كتاب السياسة Refutation of Ibn al Mu tazz كتاب الرد على ابن المعتز The Pleasure of Hearts and the Provision of the Traveller كتاب صناعة الجدل وكتاب نزهة القلوب وزاد المسافر To Ibn Jaʿfar was once also attributed the Naqd al nathr now known to be the Kitab al Burhan fi wujuh al bayan of Ibrahim ibn Wahb al Katib 10 Notes edit Al Fihrist indicates that Qudama added a ninth section however the Beatty MS contains a marginal note perhaps a correction seven stages to which he added an eighth 5 Beatty garbled but Flugel and Yaqut give daryaq i e theriac or theurgy 9 References edit Dodge 1970 p 285 n 145 Vol 1 Dodge 1970 p 285 Vol 1 Bonebakker 1986 pp 318 320 Kazhdan 1991 p 1766 Dodge 1970 p 285 n 147 Vol 1 a b Bonebakker 1986 p 320 Kazhdan 1991 pp 1766 1767 Bonebakker 1986 pp 320 321 Dodge 1970 p 285 n 150 Vol 1 P Shinar Ibn Wahb in Encyclopaedia of Islam 2nd edn ed by P Bearman and others 12 vols Leiden Brill 1960 2005 doi 10 1163 1573 3912 islam SIM 8678 Sources editBonebakker S E 1986 Kudama In Bosworth C E van Donzel E Lewis B amp Pellat Ch eds The Encyclopaedia of Islam Second Edition Volume V Khe Mahi Leiden E J Brill pp 318 322 ISBN 978 90 04 07819 2 Kazhdan Alexander ed 1991 Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 504652 6 Masudi al Abu al Hasan Ali ibn al Husayn 1871 Kitab Muruj al Dhahab wa Ma adin al Jawhar Les Prairies d or Vol 1 Translated by Bernard de Meynard amp P de Courteille Paris Imprimerie nationale p 17 Nadim al Ishaq ibn 1970 Dodge Bayard ed The Fihrist of al Nadim A Tenth Century Survey of Muslim Culture Vol 1 New York amp London Columbia University Press Taghri Birdi Abu al Mahasin Yusuf Popper William ed Al Nujum al Zahirah fi Muluk Misr wa al Qahirah Vol III Cairo Dar al Kutub al Misriyah pp 297 298 Yaqut Shihab al Din ibn Abd Allah al Hamawi 1927 1907 Margoliouth D S ed Irshad al Arib ala Ma rifat al Adib Leiden Brill Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Qudama ibn Ja 27far amp oldid 1172172659, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
