Arabic Books and Libraries in the Umaiyad Period (Concluded)

Abstract

Moslems of the Umaiyad period also turned to literature of the pre-Islamic days in the desert. As mentioned above, Wahb prepared collections of wise sayings and the Fihrist credited cUbaid with having written a book of proverbs. The same book9 mentions another work on the same subject (Kitdb al-Amthdl), by one cIkdla ibn Karim al-Kildbi, written in the days of Yazid son of Mucdwiya (caliph 60-64/679-83). The author of the Fihrist, writing at the end of the fourth century after the Hijra, adds, It is about fifty pages and I have seen it. The oldest collection of proverbs which survives is that of al-Mufat;ddal al-Dabbi (d. 170/876, published at Stamboul in 1300). These fragments of the homely wisdom of the Bedawis appealed both to the general interest in the past and to the special interest of philologists, who found in them valuable sources for their minute linguistic studies, as well as legendary and historical material.92 Even more enthusiastic was the gathering and study of ancient poetry. Although the formal collecting of it was the special province of the philologists, poetry also had a popular appeal. Accordingly, Hammdd al-RdwIya received a present of 100,000 dirhems from the caliph Walid ibn Yazid for his recital in one sitting of twenty-nine hundred odes composed before Mohammed.93 This reciter is remembered chiefly for his collection, known as the Mucallakdt. His ability to judge poetry and poets, to detect plagiarisms and borrowings, was highly respected. Although a contemporary, al-Mufaddal al-Dabbi, accused him of introducing his own verses into ancient poems, none possessed the critical ability to detect forgeries.94 Unfortunately, many others succumbed to the same temptation, the