ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="en-gb"> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 5.0"> <meta name="ProgId" content="FrontPage.Editor.Document"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=unicode"> <title>Al Nadim - The Fihrist - Introduction</title> <style> <!-- p.MsoPlainText {margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Courier New"; margin-left:0mm; margin-right:0mm; margin-top:0mm} --> </style> </head> <body> <p class="MsoPlainText" align="left"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-weight: 700"> <font size="4">The Fihrist of al-Nad+m</font><font size="3">, A Tenth-century survey of Muslim culture</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText" align="left"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"><b>Bayard Dodge</b></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-weight: 700"> <font size="3">Introduction</font></span></p> <blockquote> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: italic"> <font size="3"><a href="#a1" style="text-decoration: none">The&nbsp;system of transliteration from Arabic into English</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: italic"> <font size="3"><a href="#a2" style="text-decoration: none">Vowels and diphtongs</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: italic"> <font size="3"><a href="#a3" style="text-decoration: none">The bibliography</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: italic"> <font size="3"><a href="#a4" style="text-decoration: none">The glossary</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: italic"> <font size="3"><a href="#a5" style="text-decoration: none">The biographical index</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span lang="en-us"><font size="3"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: italic"> <a href="#a6" style="text-decoration: none">The general index</a></span></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: italic"> <font size="3"><a href="#a7" style="text-decoration: none">Llife of the author</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: italic"> <font size="3"><a href="#a8" style="text-decoration: none">The manuscritpts: sources for the translation</a></font></span></p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> <a name="a1">TH</a>E SYSTEM OF TRANSLITERATION FROM ARABIC INTO ENGLISH</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">The system used is the one described in Bulletin 49, November 1958, issued by the Cataloging Service of the Library of Congress.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" width="70%" id="AutoNumber1"> <tr> <td width="33%"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> alif</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> (see note below)</font></span></td> <td width="33%">&nbsp;</td> <td width="34%">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33%"> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> b </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  b</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> t </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  t</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> th </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  th</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> j+m</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  j</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> h# </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  h#</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> kha </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  kh</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> da l</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  d</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> dha l</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  dh</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> r </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  r</font></span></td> <td width="33%"> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> z </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  z</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> s+n</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  s</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> sh+n</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  sh</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> s#d</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  s#</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> d#d</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  d#</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> t# </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  t#</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> z# </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  z#</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  ayn</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">   </font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> ghayn</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  gh</font></span></td> <td width="34%"> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> f </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  f</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> qf</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  q</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> kf</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  k</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> lm</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  l</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> m+m</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  m</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> nkn</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  n</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> h </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  h</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> ww</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  w</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> y </font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">  y</font></span></td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;As a rule <i>alif</i> is transliterated according to the vowel which governs it. But <i>alif</i> with a <i>maddah</i> or a <i>maqskrah</i> is a form transliterated as .</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> <a name="a2">V</a>OWELS AND DIPHTONGS</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" width="70%" id="AutoNumber2"> <tr> <td width="33%">&nbsp;</td> <td width="33%"> <p align="center"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> short</font></span></td> <td width="34%"> <p align="center"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> long</font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33%"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> fath#ah</font></span></i></td> <td width="33%" align="center"> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">a</font></span></td> <td width="34%" align="center"> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">i</font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33%"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> kasrah</font></span></i></td> <td width="33%" align="center"> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"></font></span></td> <td width="34%" align="center"> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">+</font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33%"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> d#ammah</font></span></i></td> <td width="33%" align="center"> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">u</font></span></td> <td width="34%" align="center"> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">k</font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" colspan="3"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> Shaddah</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> is indicated by a doubling of the consonant, but a double <i>y </i> after <i>kasrah</i> is written as in <i>kull+yah</i>. The definite article is not written with a capital, except at the beginning of a sentence. The <i>nisbah</i> is written +. Final <i>h </i> is written with h, rather than t, except when it is in construct state or in a few words like <i>s#alt</i>, <i>zakt</i>, and <i>Ghult</i>.</font></span></td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p class="MsoPlainText">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="line_down.gif" width="596" height="18"></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">xiv</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">In the Arabic text the titles of an author s books are listed after the account of his life. In the translation each list is as a rule preceded by the phrase  among his books there were. Moreover, before each book title the Arabic version has <i>kitb</i> (book). This word is usually omitted in the English translation.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">Words in brackets are explanatory material, added to clarify the meaning of the original text. Parentheses are used for equivalents of Arabic and English words, as well as for alternative translations and interpretations. There are few paragraph divisions and no quotation marks in the Arabic text.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">There are two devices to indicate gaps in the text. When a word or a phrase has been purposely omitted by al-Nad+m, who hoped to be able to fill the space at a later time, a long dash is used. When a word or a phrase is omitted because the original copy is garbled or missing, an ellipsis is inserted to indicate missing material.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> <a name="a3">T</a>HE BIBLIOGRAPHY</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">The bibliography follows the main text of the book. It is strictly limited in size, with only a selected number of books mentioned. The authors are listed alphabetically, with the titles of their books placed after their names. All references in the footnotes, Glossary, and Biographical Index are to the names of these authors. When the titles of more than one book are given after the name of an author, the reference indicates which one of these books is involved. The size of the Bibliography has been limited by omitting most of the recently published editions of the medieval books mentioned in the text of <i>Al-Fihrist</i>.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> <a name="a4">T</a>HE GLOSSARY</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">Coming immediately after the Bibhography is the Glossary. It should be studied in connection with the religious sects and for an understanding of numerous technical terms. It also explains the significance of many of the book titles.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> <a name="a5">T</a>HE BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">The names of men and women mentioned in <i>Al-Fihrist</i> are included in the Biographical Index, which comes directly after the</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="line_down.gif" width="596" height="18"></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">xv</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> Glossary. It is in the form of a Who s Who. In the main text of the book the part of the man s name by which he is listed in the Biographical Index is printed in italics, unless the name is repeated in the same passage. Names which are garbled in the manuscripts or belong to unimportant characters of fiction are omitted.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">It may seem strange to list Greek and Latin scholars with the Arab ones, but they belonged to the Muslim culture of medieval tirnes, just as truly as they do to the scholarship of our modern world.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> References will be found in the Biographical Index to throw hght on the names of the persons included. The Encyclopaedia of Islam and standard works on history, literature, and biography give further information about the men and women mentioned in <i>Al-Fihrist</i>.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> <a name="a6">T</a>HE GENERAL INDEX</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">The General Index is placed at the end of the book, after the Biographical Index. It includes numerous topics and technical terms, as well as the names of tribes and geographical localities.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> <a name="a7">L</a>IFE OF THE AUTHOR</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">The author of Al-Fihrist was Abk al-Faraj Muh#ammad ibn Ish#q ibn Muh#ammad ibn Ish#q, but as a rule he is called al-Nad+m because he had the distinction of being a <i>nad+m</i> or court companion. As the surname of his father was Abk Ya qkb, he evidently had an elder brother named Ya qkb and probably had other brothers and sisters as well.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">The year of his birth is unknown, but it cannot have been much after A.D. 935 and more likely was somewhat earlier. In Chapter VI, section 8, the author tells about meeting a scholar named Muh#ammad ibn  Abd Allh al-Bardha +, <a href="#1.">[1]</a> who explained the doctrine of the Mu tazilah and gave him a hst of his legal books. If al-Nad+m, the author of <i>Al-Fihrist</i>, was mature enough to be interested in the doctrine of an unorthodox sect and books about the law, he must have been at least sixteen years of age, or probably a number of years older. Because this meeting occurred during the year 340 (A.D.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="1.">1.</a></b> The men s names mentioned in the Introduction can be found in the Biographical Index, where they are listed according to the part of the name given in italics. For information about al-Nad+m, see Goldziher, <i>ZDMG</i>, XXXVI (1882), 278</font></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"> </font></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">84; Fück, <i>ZDMG</i>, New Ser. IX, No. 2 (1930), 111</font></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"> </font></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">24; Ritter, <i>Der Islam</i>, XVII, No. I (February 1928), 15</font></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"> </font></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">28.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="line_down.gif" width="596" height="18"></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">xvi</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> 951/952), it is evident that al-Nad+m s birth was about 935. He was, therefore, almost certainly born during the reign of <i>al-Muqtadir</i>, 908-932, or of <i>al-Qhir</i>, 932-934, or, less likely, of <i>al-Rd+</i>, 934-940.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">The author s father was called a <i>warrq</i>, which in his case evidently meant that he was a book dealer. As he seems to have been prosperous, it is likely that he presided over a large bookstore, which was almost certainly at Baghdd. It is easy to imagine how he commissioned his sons to buy manuscripts from other dealers and had his own scribes make copies of manuscripts for his customers.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">A medieval manuscript was about the size of a modern book, but it was written by hand instead of being printed. The leaves were made of a paper of good quahty, with writing on both sides. As a rule these pages were bound in a leather cover. The bookshop, hke the old shops in al-Najaf, was probably on an upper story, where it formed a meeting place for scholars who came to examine the books, enjoy refreshments, and discuss academic problems.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">Most authorities have taken it for granted that the father, as well as the son, was a <i>nad+m</i>, or court companion. Ibn H#ajar <a href="#2.">[2]</a> refers to the author as Muh#ammad ibn Ish#q ibn al-Nad+m. Ibn Ab+ Us#aybi ah mentions the author thirteen times. <a href="#3.">[3]</a> On pages 57, 175, 207, 208, 209, 220, 244, and 309 he calls him Ibn al-Nad+m, but on other pages he refers to him as al-Nad+m. Yqkt calls him Muh#ammad ibn Ish#q al-Nad+m. <a href="#4.">[4]</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">The main title of the authoritative Beatty manuscript is <i>Kitb Al-Fihrist li-al-Nad+m</i>. In the heading of Chapter II of this manuscript there is a curious clause, which also appears in the headings of the last three chapters of MS 1934. Following the words  The composition of Muh#ammad ibn Ish#q al-Nad+m there is this clause,  Ish#q being known as Abk Ya qkb al-Warrq. </font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">One wonders if the author of <i>Al-Fihrist</i> added this ungrammatical phrase in order to make it clear that whereas he himselfwas a <i>nad+m</i>, or court companion, his father was merely a <i>warrq</i>, or book dealer. What seems to be certain is that both the father and the son were men of considerable importance and social standing.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="2.">2.</a></b> See Bibliography, H#ajar, <i>Lisn al-M+zn</i>, Part 5, p. 72, I.15.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="3.">3.</a></b> See Us#aybi ah,  <i>Uykn al-Anb</i> .</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="4.">4.</a></b> See Yqkt, <i>Irshd</i>, VI (6), p. 408.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="line_down.gif" width="596" height="18"></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">xvii</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">When he was about six years old the author undoubtedly attended an elementary class attached to a mosque. One can visuahze the little boy sitting on the ground in a group of other children, swaying back and forth as he repeated the verses of the Qur n, which his teacher recited to be memorized. The child also must have learned how to write the verses on his board, erasing each verse when he learned how to copy it, in order to make the board clean for a new quotation. By the time he was ten years old he had probably memorized the entire Qur n, so as to be prepared for study of a more mature nature.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">It is reasonable to believe that al-Nad+m joined a study circle in some important mosque to learn the intricacies of Arabic grammar and rhetoric as well as something about Qur nic commentary, the H#ad+th or traditions of the Prophet, and rules for reciting the Qur n in an authorized way. Before long he undoubtedly worked as an apprentice in his father s book shop, copying manuscripts, entertaining scholars, and helping to sell what they wanted to buy. Yqkt endorsed this idea when he wrote:  It is not unreasonable that he was a <i>warrq</i> who sold books. <a href="#5.">[5]</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> Al-Nad+m, however, was so much interested in his studies that he did not spend all of his time in the book store. An inscription on the title page of the Beatty MS records that he quoted, or was a pupil of,  Abk Sa +d al-<i>S+rf+</i> the jurist, Abk al-<i>Faraj</i> al-Is#bahn+ the famous compiler of poetry and literary anecdotes, and Abk  Abd Allh al-<i>Marzubn+</i>, who was interested in history. Ibn H#ajar <a href="#6.">[6]</a> says that al-Nad+m had permission to quote Isma il al-<i>S#affar</i>, who was an authority for the H#ad+th, and Ibrh+m al-Abyr+ points out that he also studied with al-<i>H#asan</i> ibn Sawwr, a logician who translated scientific books; <a href="#7.">[7]</a> Abk Ah#mad, who was perhaps al-H#usayn ibn Ish#q ibn <i>Karn+b</i> the theologian and natural scientist; <i>Yknus</i> al-Qass, who translated classic works on mathematics, and Abk al-<i>H#asan</i> Muh#ammad ibn Yksufal-Nqit#, a scholar interested in Greek science.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">Ibn Ab+ Usaybi ah remarks that al-Nad+m was a <i>ktib</i>, <a href="#8.">[8]</a> which may mean that he was simply a writer. On the other hand it may</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="5.">5.</a></b> See Yqkt, <i>Irshd</i>, VI (6), 408.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="6.">6.</a></b> See H#ajar, <i>Lisn al-M+zn</i>, Part 5, p. 72.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="7.">7.</a></b> See Abyr+, <i>Turth al-Insn+yah</i>, III (Mardi 5, 1965), 196.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="8.">8.</a></b> Us#aybi ah, Part 1, p. 57.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="line_down.gif" width="596" height="18"></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">xviii</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">imply that he was a government secretary, perhaps in the library or in the bureau for correspondence. Because al-Nad+m was surnamed Abk al-Faraj he must have been married, with at least one son and a home of his own in Baghdd.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">Ibn H#ajar says that al-Nad+m was a Sh+ ite, <a href="#9.">[9]</a> which statement is confirmed by the text of <i>Al-Fihrist</i>. In Chapter VI the author speaks of the Sh+ ah as <i>al-khas#s#+</i> or elite, while he refers to persons who were not Sh+ ites as <i>al- mm+</i> or ignorant. In <i>Al-Fihrist</i>, moreover, the Sunnites are referred to as <i>al-h#ashw+yah</i>, which is a contemptuous term for persons who blindly accept anthropomorphic ideas. <a href="#10.">[10]</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">When speaking about the father of al-<i>Zubayr+</i> Mus ab ibn  Abd Allh, al-Nad+m says that he was one of the most wicked of men, because he maligned the descendants of <i> Al+</i>. <a href="#11.">[11]</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">In the same passage in which Ibn H#ajar calls al-Nad+m a Sh+ ite he also states that he was a Mu tazil+. Even if he was not an official member of this heretical sect, al-Nad+m must have been very much interested in it, because such a large part of the fifth chapter of <i>Al-Fihrist</i> is devoted to it.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">Because he met an Ism +l+ leader and attended an Ism +l+ meeting, <a href="#12."> [12]</a> some people have claimed that al-Nad+m was one of the Ism +l+yah, but this idea does not seem to be a true one.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> Al-Nad+m mentions that he wrote one other book in addition to <i>Al-Fihrist</i>. In speaking about the excellencies of books he says,  I have dealt with this subject and similar ones in the chapter on writing and its instruments in a book which I have composed about descriptions and comparisons (<i>al-awsf wa-al-tashb+ht</i>). <a href="#13.">[13]</a> Evidently al-Nad+m was so much interested in books and government work that he did not attempt to become a teacher. The inscription on the title page of the Beatty MS says that no one quoted him, which implies that he did not have students.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">It is probable that while he was still a young man al-Nad+m began to make a catalogue of authors and the names of their compositions for use in his father s bookstore. At the beginning of Chapter IV,</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="9.">9.</a></b> H#ajar, <i>Lisn al-M+zn</i>, Part 5, p. 72.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="10.">10.</a></b> Chap. VI, section 6, n. 47 and n. 66 of the translation.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="11.">11.</a></b> Chap. III, section 1, near n. 208.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="12.">12.</a></b> Chap. V, section 4, near n. 93 and n. 96.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="13.">13.</a></b> Chap. I, section 1, following n. 35.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="line_down.gif" width="596" height="18"></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">xix</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">section 2, he explains that, as other scholars have given details about the poets, what he himself aims to do is  to present the names of the poets and the amount of verses written by each poet among them . . . so that whoever desires to collect books and poems can have this information. </font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">It is reasonable to believe that al-Nad+m wrote notes about each author on a piece of paper. When dealing with a man who was a scholar rather than a poet he tried to give some biographical material, as well as the titles of the author s books. When speaking about the books of the Zayd+yah <a href="#14."> [14]</a> he says,  If some observer sees one of them while we are writing, I will add it in its proper place. In the course of time the notes must have been arranged according to subjects and in chronological sequence. Then, when enough of them had been collected, the author undertook to compile them in the form of chapters for his book.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">As he grew older, al-Nad+m evidently became interested in so many subjects about which he read in books, or which he learned about from friends and chance acquaintances, that he included a great deal of additional material with his notes about the poets and scholars. Thus, instead of being merely the catalogue for a bookshop, <i>Al-Fihrist</i> became an encyclopaedia of medieval Islmic culture.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">We do not know to what extent al-Nad+m searched for information in places other than Baghdd. He very likely visited al-Bas#rah and al-Kkfah, as scholarship flourished in those cities during the eighth century. He may have gone to Aleppo, where <i>Sayf</i> al-Dawlah, during the middle of the tenth century, created a center of literature and culture. It is not very likely that he visited Damascus or the famous cities of Persia and Khursn. What is certain, however, is that he spent some time at al-Maws#il, probably when <i>Ns#ir</i> al-Dawlah was ruler of the region, between A.D 929 and 968.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> Al-Fihrist</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> mentions that he met a book collector there. He also saw the tutor of the sons of Ns#ir al-Dawlah <a href="#15.">[15]</a> and a man named Muh#ammad ibn Hshim, who was brought up in the environs of al-Maws#il. <a href="#16.">[16]</a> He evidently visited the libraries of al-Maws#il, as he</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="14.">14.</a></b> Chap. V, setion 4, near n. 140.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="15.">15.</a></b> Chap. II, section I, near n. 9, and section 3, near n. 79.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="16.">16.</a></b> Chap. IV, section 2, near n. 95.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="line_down.gif" width="596" height="18"></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">xx</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">found a fragment of one of Euclid s books in a private collection. <a href="#17.">[17]</a> Apparently in addition to searching for books, he learned what he could about religious sects. He associated with an Ism il+ leader and attended an Ism +l+ meeting, which may have inspired him to include his long passage about the Ism +l+yah in <i>Al-Fihrist</i>. <a href="#18.">[18]</a> It is obvious that al-Nad+m was at al-Maws#il before he completed his chapter about the poets, because he says that he saw a certain amount of poetry there. <a href="#19.">[19]</a> Sarton states that al-Nad+m went to Istanbkl, taking it for granted that Dr al-Rkm referred to the Byzantine city of Constantinople. But this is an error, as Dr al-Rkm really refers to the Greek Orthodox section of Baghdd. <a href="#20.">[20]</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><i> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">Ns#ir</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> al-Dawlah, the ruler of al-Maws#il, was a Sh+ ite who was anxious to make his city a center of culture and learning. As al-Nad+m was also a Sh+ ite, it is possible that his service as a court companion was at al-Maws#il. It is much more likely, however, that he went to al-Maws#il to obtain books and that his life as a court companion was spent at Baghdd. What seems probable is that al-Nad+m became attached to the court at the time of <i>Mu izz</i> al-Dawlah, who, with the title of <i>Am+r al-Umar </i>, overshadowed the puppet caliph and ruled at Baghdd from A.D. 945 to 967. He was a member of the Buwayh family and a sympathizer with the Sh+ ites, so that it would have been natural for him to make a Sh+ ite like al-Nad+m a member of his court, perhaps connected with the royal library. If al-Nad+m was a court companion in the palace of Mu izz al-Dawlah, it is likely that he also served  Izz al-Dawlah, the weak son and successor of Mu izz al-Dawlah, until this son died in A.D. 977. Unfortunately we can only guess about these events in the life of al-Nad+m, as we do not have accurate information about his biography.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">It cannot have been very long after the death of  Izz al-Dawlah that al-Nad+m undertook the laborious task of arranging his mass of notes and compiling them in the form of a book. Near the end of Chapter I <a href="#21.">[21]</a> of <i> Al-Fihrist</i>, the author records:  This is the end of</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="17.">17.</a></b> Chap. VII, section 2, near n. 5.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="18.">18.</a></b> Chap. V, section 4, near n. 93 and n. 96; also Chap. V, section 5.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="19.">19.</a></b> Chap. IV, section 2, near n. 5.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="20.">20.</a></b> Chap. IX, section 2, n. 40; Sarton I, 662.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="21.">21.</a></b> Chap. I, section 3, near n. 133.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="line_down.gif" width="596" height="18"></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">xxi</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">what we have composed of the first chapter of the book <i>Al-Fihrist</i>, until the time of the appearance of the new moon on Saturday of Sha bn during the year three hundred and seventy-seven. This was probably December, 987.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">Yqkt cites this same year for the writing of <i>Al-Fihrist</i>. <a href="#22.">[22]</a> Near the end of Chapter II <a href="#23.">[23]</a> al-Nad+m gives this date also for completion of the account of the scholars of grammar and language. Two other statements can be mentioned to confirm the accuracy of this date. In speaking about Abk al-H#asan  Al+ ibn <i>Nas#r</i>, the author of <i> Al-Fihrist</i> says,  who died a few months ago. Ibn Taghr+-Bird+ gives the year three hundred and seventy-six (A.D. 986/987) as the time of this man s death. <a href="#24.">[24]</a> Then at the end of Chapter VI there is the statement in <i>Al-Fihrist</i>,  until our time, which is the year three hundred and seventy-seven. <a href="#25.">[25]</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">It is possible that al-Nad+m did not complete the last chapters of his book until a year or two later. In Chapter IX he tells the story of a Christian monk who returned from China. As this monk did not reach Baghdd before the year three hundred and seventy-seven (A.D. 987/988), it is possible that Chapter IX was not written in its final form before A.D. 988 or 989. <a href="#26.">[26]</a> It seems to be certain that <i>Al-Fihrist</i> was completed by the year A.D. 990 at the latest, probably twelve or eighteen months before that time. This was just at the time when higher education was being established at the al-Jmi al-Azhar in Cairo and a little less than a century before the First Crusade. Hugh Capet was King of France, and Aethelred the Second was ruling in England.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">Ibn H#ajar says that a certain Abk T#hir al-Karkh+ gave the date for al-Nad+m s death as the year four hundred and thirty-eight (A.D. 1047), but he said of this statement,  he was not reliable about this. Ibn H#ajar also quotes other assertions which seem to be equally unreliable. <a href="#27.">[27]</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="22.">22.</a></b> Yqkt, <i>Irshd</i>, VI (2), 63; VI (3), 54.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="23.">23.</a></b> Chap. II, section 3, near n. 87.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="24.">24.</a></b> Chap. III, section 2; Taghr+-Bird+, Part 4, p. 149, 1.5. Shuj , VI (H), 438 (408), gives a later date, which must be an error.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="25.">25.</a></b> Chap. VI, section 5.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="26.">26.</a></b> Chap. IX, section 2, n. 39.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="27.">27.</a></b> H#ajar, <i>Lisn al-M+zn</i>, Part 5, p. 72. Although the date A.D. 1047 seems to be inaccurate, numerous authorities have given it as the year of al-Nad+m s death. The</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="line_down.gif" width="596" height="18"></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">xxii</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">It seems inevitable that if al-Nad+m had lived until A.D. 1047 he would have added to <i>Al-Fihrist</i> some of the great names of the eleventh century, such as Ibn S+n and al-B+rkn+, as well as something about the famous Ikhwn al-S#af . Furthermore, al-Nad+m left blank spaces in his manuscript, to be filled in as he could obtain further information. Evidently he died before he was able to include new data in these blank spaces.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3"> Accordingly, the note on the title page of the Beatty manuscript is probably correct. It says of al-Nad+m that  he died on Wednesday, the tenth [day] from the end of Sha bn in the year three hundred and eighty (A.D. 990/991). <a href="#28.">[28]</a> As this note was almost certainly written by the great historian al-Maqr+z+, it has real importance and seems to be reliable. <a href="#29.">[29]</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">It is reasonable to believe that when al-Nad+m died the original copy of his manuscript was placed in the royal library at Baghdd, while other copies made by scribes about the time of his death were assigned to his family bookstore, where some of them were probably sold to customers who came to purchase interesting books. Farmer says:  Yqkt (d. 626/1229) averred that he used a copy of the <i>Fihrist</i> in the handwriting of al-Nad+m himself. The lexicographer al-S#aghn+ (650/1252) made a similar claim. Either of these autograph copies may have been in the Caliph s library, which was destroyed utterly at the sacking of Baghdd in 656/1258). <a href="#30.">[30]</a></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">Beatty MS has been made available so recently that these authorities have obviously never had a chance to study it. As many of the persons mentioned in this paragraph and those which follow lived after <i>Al-Fihrist</i> was written, their names are not included in the Biographical Index, although some of them are mentioned in the Bibliography.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="28.">28.</a></b> This passage probably means that al-Nad+m died on the nineteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar year, which began March 31, 990. The first seven lunar months have 207 days, which added to the nineteenth day of the eighth month makes a total of 226 days. The solar calendar date for 226 days after March 31 is November 12, 990. This seems to have been the true date for al-Nad+m s death.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="29.">29.</a></b> Abk al- Abbs Ah#mad ibn  Al+ ibn  Abd al-Qdir al-Maqr+z+ was born at Ba albek in 1365. He was an official at Damascus but later lived in Egypt, where he died in 1441. He was one of the greatest of the medieval Egyptian historians. See Zirikl+, I, 172;  al-Mak#r+z+, <i>Enc. Islam</i>, IV, 175.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"><b> <a name="30.">30.</a></b> Farmer, </font><i><font size="2">Annual of </font> </i></span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"> <font size="2">Leeds University Oriental Society</font></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">, II (1959</font></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2"> </font></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">1961), 47.</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman"><font size="3">&nbsp;<img border="0" src="line_down.gif" width="596" height="18"></font></span></p> <p class="MsoPlain