The Epistle of Forgiveness: Volume One: A Vision of Heaven and Hell (Library of Arabic Literature, 32)

One of the most unusual books in classical Arabic literature, The Epistle of Forgiveness is the lengthy reply by the prolific Syrian poet and prose writer Abu l-'Alaa al-Ma'arri (d. 449 H/1057 AD) to a letter written by an obscure grammarian, Ibn al-Qarih. With biting irony, The Epistle of Forgiveness mocks Ibn al-Qarih's hypocrisy and sycophancy by imagining he has died and arrived with some difficulty in Heaven, where he meets famous poets and philologists from the past. He also glimpses Hell, and converses with the Devil and various heretics. Al-Ma'arri--a maverick, a vegan, and often branded a heretic himself--seems to mock popular ideas about the Hereafter. This translation is the first complete translation in any language and retains the many digressions, difficult passages, and convoluted grammatical discussions of the original typically omitted in other translations. It is accompanied by extensive annotation and a comprehensive introduction. Geert Jan van Gelder studied Semitic Languages in Amsterdam and Leiden. He was Lecturer in Arabic at the University of Groningen (1975-1998) and Laudian Professor of Arabic at the University of Oxford (1998-2012). He has published numerous articles and several books on classical Arabic literature. Gregor Schoeler studied Arabic and Islamic Studies in Frankfurt am Main and Giessen (Germany). He was the chair of Islamic Studies at the University of Basel (1982-2009). He has published numerous articles and several books in the fields of Islamic Studies and classical Arabic literature. "One of the most unusual books in classical Arabic literature, The Epistle of Forgiveness is the lengthy reply by the prolific Syrian poet and prose writer, Abū l-'Alā al-Ma'arrī (d. 449 H/1057 AD), to a letter by an obscure grammarian, Ibn al-Qāriḥ. With biting irony, The Epistle of Forgiveness mocks Ibn al-Qāriḥ's hypocrisy and sycophancy by imagining he has died and arrived with some difficulty in Heaven, where he meets famous poets and philologists from the past. He also glimpses Hell, and converses with the Devil and various heretics. Al-Ma'arrī--a maverick, a vegan, and often branded a heretic himself--seems to mock popular ideas about the Hereafter"-- Book jacket V. 1. A Visit To Heaven And Hell, Preceded By Ibn Al-qarih's Epistle -- V. 2. Hypocrites, Heretics, And Other Sinners. By Abū Al-ʻalāʼ Al-maʻarrī ; Edited And Translated By Geert Jan Van Gelder And Gregor Schoeler. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Bilingual English And Arabic Edition. Authoritative and reliable editions of the Arabic and modern, lucid English translations introducing treasures of the Arabic literary heritage