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The World of Murtada al-Zabidi (1732-91). Life, Networks and Writings

by Stefan Reichmuth

Murtada al-Zabidi was a Humanist scholar and a Muslim, whose twelfth-century writings are here examined in the context of their geographical and historical setting. The period when Zabidi was writing saw a shift in the balance of power from the Muslim empires to the Western world, reflected in the stories he told of his travels from India on to Cairo, across vast distances and coming across an extraordinary range of people. The five chapters in this work look at various aspects of Zabidi's life and times, the first one focusing on his life and career and forms a background to studies of his work. The second looks at Zabidi's writing and publishing and the third at his notes on his friends, teachers, students and acquaintances. Chapter four assesses his two largest works; his Arabic lexicon and his commentary on Gazzali's Ihya. Finally, chapter five explores his second major literary achievement, his large commentary on Gazzali's Ihya ulum al-din. 288p, 8p col (The E.J.W. Gibb Memorial Trust 2009)

Review Quotes

"An impressive study on the life and work of one of the last Muslim scholars...[...]this is a most welcome addition..."

Muzaffar Iqbal, Center for Islam and Science Canada
Islam and Science (Winter 2011)

"Reichmuth’s volume casts a new light on al-Zabidi’s education and his scholarly network, his contribution to ?adi? studies and his outstanding achievements in the field of textual criticism. The new data and their critical assessment contained in this work will be of interest to a large ga-mut of readers."

Antonella Ghersetti, Università “Ca’ Foscari”, Venezia
Quaderni di Studi Arabi, Nuova Serie 5-6 (2010-2011)

Table of Contents

Introduction: Murta?a al-Zabidi – A Muslim Humanist Scholar of the 12th/18th Century
Acknowledgements

1. From India to Cairo: Murta?a al-Zabidi’s Life and Times
2. Zabidi’s Writings
3. Personal Network and Sentimental Memory: Zabidi’s Autobiographical Lexicon(Mu’jam)
4. The “Bridal Crown” (Taj al-‘arus) and its Vision of an Islamic Culture
5. The “Gift of the God-Fearing Sayyids” (It?af al-Sada al-muttaqin):

Prophetic Piety and Islamic Humanism
Abbreviations
Bibliography
Index

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