Arabic Authors

Arabic Authors, by F. F.
Arbuthnot

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Title: Arabic Authors A Manual of Arabian History and Literature
Author: F. F. Arbuthnot
Release Date: November 24, 2006 [EBook #19914]
Language: English
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ARABIC AUTHORS.
A MANUAL OF ARABIAN HISTORY AND LITERATURE.

BY
F.F. ARBUTHNOT, M.R.A.S.,
AUTHOR OF
"EARLY IDEAS" AND "PERSIAN PORTRAITS."

LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN. 1890.

PREFACE.
The following pages contain nothing new and nothing original, but they
do contain a good deal of information gathered from various sources,
and brought together under one cover. The book itself may be useful,
not, perhaps, to the Professor or to the Orientalist, but to the general
reader, and to the student commencing the study of Arabic. To the
latter it will give some idea of the vast field of Arabian literature that
lies before him, and prepare him, perhaps, for working out a really
interesting work upon the subject. Such still remains to be written in
the English language, and it is to be hoped that it will be done some day
thoroughly and well.
It is gratifying to think that the study of Oriental languages and
literature is progressing in Europe generally, if not in England
particularly. The last Oriental Congress, held at Stockholm and
Christiania the beginning of September, 1889, brought together a
goodly number of Oriental scholars. There were twenty-eight
nationalities represented altogether, and the many papers prepared and
read, or taken as read preparatory to their being printed, showed that
matters connected with Oriental studies in all their branches excite
considerable interest.
England, too, has been lately making some efforts which will be, it is

sincerely hoped, crowned with success. The lectures on modern
Oriental languages lately established by the Imperial Institute of the
United Kingdom, the Colonies, and India, in union with University
College and King's College, London, is full of promise of bringing
forth good fruit hereafter. So much is to be learnt from Oriental
literature in various ways that it is to be hoped the day may yet come
when the study of one or more Oriental languages will be taken up as a
pastime to fill the leisure hours of a future generation thirsting after
knowledge.
In addition to the above, a movement is also being made to attempt to
revive the old Oriental Translation Fund. It was originally started in
A.D. 1828, and did good work for fifty years, publishing translations
(see Appendix) from fifteen different Oriental languages, and then
collapsing from apathy, neglect, and want of funds. Unless well
supported, both by donations and annual subscriptions, it is useless to
attempt a fresh start. To succeed thoroughly it must be regarded as a
national institution, and sufficiently well-off to be able to afford to
bring out Texts and Indexes of
[Transcriber's note: Missing page in the source document.]
-cially An-Nadim's 'Fihrist,' a most valuable book of reference, ought to
be done into English without further delay. Private individuals can
hardly undertake the business, but a well-organized and permanent
Oriental Translation Fund, assisted by the English and Indian
Governments, could and would render extraordinary services in the
publication of texts, translations, and indexes of Oriental literature
generally.
For assistance in the preparation of this present volume my thanks are
due to the many authors whose works have been freely used and quoted,
and also to Mr. E. Rehatsek, of Bombay, whose knowledge of the
Arabic language and of Arabic literature is well known to all Oriental
scholars.
F.F. ARBUTHNOT.

18, Park Lane, W.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
HISTORICAL.
Arabia: its boundaries, divisions of districts, revenues, area, population,
and history.--Tribe of Koraish.--The Kaabah at
Mecca.--Muhammad.--His immediate successors: Abu Bakr, Omar,
Othman, Ali.--The Omaiyides.--Fate of Hasan and Hussain, sons of
Ali--Sunnis and Shiahs.--Overthrow of the Omaiyides by the
Abbasides.--The Omaiyides in Spain; their conquests and
government.--The Moors, and their final expulsion.--To what extent
Europe is indebted to the Spanish Arabs.--Their literature and
architecture.--The Abbaside Khalifs at Baghdad.--Persia, Egypt, Syria,
Palestine, and Arabia become detached from their government in the
course of time.--Fall of Baghdad itself in A.D. 1258.--Dealings of the
Turks with Arabia.--The Wahhabi reform movement.--Expeditions of
the Turks and Egyptians to suppress it.--Various defeats and
successes.--Present form of government in Arabia.--Its future
prospects.--List of the Omaiyide Khalifs, preceded by Muhammad and
his four immediate successors.--List of the Abbaside Khalifs.--List of
the Arab