4to. 6 pp., of introduction, 3 pp., of index, 115 pp., [1 contents], Arabic lithographed text, modern hard back binding, light stamp of previous owner on first and last page, paper slightly browned, scattered light foxing mainly to first and last leaf, otherwise copy in good condition, Boulaq, Cairo, 1319 A. H. / 1902.

Synopsis

This work is a manual for students of poetics. It discusses the use of triple short vowels (muthallathat) in a manner conforming to Arabic morphology and authoritative practice. The author, Hasan ibn ‘Ali Quwaydir (1788 or 1789−1846), does not tell us how he came to select the words and phrases in the book. In its idiosyncratic choice of examples and its prescriptive directions for use, this is a highly personal work. The verses of the main text, framed within double borders, are extensively glossed by the author with literary and morphological explanations. The main text is completely vowelled, while there is no vowelling on the marginalia. The work is organised alphabetically, with tables of contents at the beginning and end. The main lexicon is followed by a list of unusual words and proper names. According to a biographical note, Quwaydir was born in Cairo and spent his entire life there. His ancestors were from Morocco and came east to settle in al-Khalil. His father, who was a merchant, moved to Cairo, where
his son was born. Although educated in language and literature under prominent teachers at al-Azhar, Quwaydir devoted much of his time to
international trade. He had a close following of students who studied with him and wrote panegyric poems about him upon his death. His
literary and commercial interests left him no time to compile his poetry into a diwan, or authoritative collection.