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Love of Books - An example
by Meam Wye
Al- Jahiz , the 8th century muslim scholar, had a great love for books and spent time reading and writing books. Infact, books were the cause of his death..... he died in 868 when a pile of his books fell on him from an overloaded shelf in his private library!
al-Jahiz real name was Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr al-Kinani al-Fuqaimi al-Basri who was born in 781 in Basra. He wrote about two hundred books covering various subjects from Literature and Philosophy to Zoology and Social Psychology. I plan to write a seperate post on Al-Jahiz and on his famous books. In this post, however, I just wish to share some of his interesting and full of wisdom quotes on books.
I can think of no item so new,born so recently, yet modest in price and easily obtained, that brings together so much excellent advice, so much rare knowledge, so many works by great minds and keen brains, so many lofty thoughts and sound ideas, so much wisdom and so much information about ancient times, distant lands, popular sayings and ruined empires, as a book.
The book is silent as long as you need silence, eloquent when you want discourse.
If your fortune change, a book does not desert you, and if a fair wind blows for your enemies, a book does not turn against you. With a book as a friend, you will be able to do without everything else. You will not find yourself driven to bad company by boredom or loneliness.
Read in a Reader
August 31, 2009 12:25 AM
What a bookish way to die.
"The book is silent as long as you need silence, eloquent when you want discourse." - I agree.
August 31, 2009 12:30 AM
You comment has made me smile:) Thanks!
August 31, 2009 6:17 PM
Wonderful, Meam! Your comment about his death made me smile. Reading has always been a favorite pastime of mine. I learn so much from it. I look forward to your next post about this most interesting man.
August 31, 2009 11:05 PM
I guess this smile has now become contagious:)Thanks! I Plan to write my next post (next Sunday) on Ibn Jahiz's book 'Book of Animals'.... it is one of his famous works.
September 2, 2009 8:34 AM
I have bookmarked you blog on my Fiance's computer because I asked him to buy me one of the books you have suggested for my birthday. I think they all would be a fascinating read. Thank you.
September 2, 2009 11:34 AM
Oh great! My husband also gifted me '1001 inventions' book on our wedding anniversary this year! Which book are you interested in reading? Thanks for your interest in this blog :)
September 4, 2009 5:03 AM
Very interesting, Meam Wye. I'm so new to this blogging routine that it has taken me quite a while to get around to thanking you for your recent visit to my blog: Savage Reflections. Thanks for your comment. Let's stay in touch.
September 4, 2009 1:28 PM
I always knew books were dangerous. That's why in my old age I've been staying away from them.
September 4, 2009 4:00 PM
One of my favorite poets is Rabia of Basra (Ibn Jahiz, being from the same city, reminded me of her). One of my favorite quotes from her poetry is this one: "Have wings that feared ever touched the sun? I was born when all I once feared -- I could love."
I'd have left that in my last comment, but I'd lent the book to a friend, and only yesterday got it back.
George Polley
Sapporo, Japan
September 5, 2009 11:08 PM
@Nothing Profound: You do have a point here :)
September 6, 2009 1:16 AM
@George Polley: Thanks a lot for taking time to share these beautiful lines of poetry and for being a regular visitor of this blog.
September 10, 2009 1:33 PM
"The book is silent as long as you need silence, eloquent when you want discourse." This is brilliant and very eloquent. :o)
September 11, 2009 10:17 AM
Agreed! Thanks for stopping by :)
September 13, 2009 7:50 AM
Wow, sad and an ironic way for him to die after writing over 200 books. You selected great quotes, I am going to put Al- Jahiz on my Birthday wish list. Thank you. :)
September 13, 2009 8:22 AM
Caution: Beware of Books!
September 13, 2009 1:10 PM
"so new,born so recently" -- No matter how old a book may be, it is always brand new when you are reading it for the first time.
September 24, 2009 3:52 AM
What an interesting blog..
Sounds like this fellows demize was his books. I wonder if he might think differently if he had of known they would be the cause of his leaving this earth.
September 24, 2009 11:04 PM
I guess :) Thanks for stopping by.
October 5, 2009 8:38 PM
nice blog dear...
we can think how it woud be dificuilt for Al Jahiz to keep love of books in 8th century....... he was a great man.
October 5, 2009 8:50 PM
Indeed. Thanks for sharing your views :)
January 30, 2012 11:08 PM
You have done some wonderful research on your site Meam!
You mention many medieval books, quotations from them, and gems of scientific and mathematical discovery. Sometimes you mention Arabic-writing (mostly Persian) scientists' work in quotes taken from English-speaking writers books.
Do full copies of the medieval books still exist?
If so, where, and are there translations into English? Ibn SIna (Avicenna) has his medical books translated into English, and Omar Khayyam, possibly all his, though it is hard to say, as his scientific works were as prolific as his poetry. Usually Western audiences are familiar with only short excerpts on the moon and drinking "wine," not on calculations.
Thank you.
February 5, 2012 7:23 AM
Thank you very much, Dr.MAG! For online medieval texts, you may find the following resources useful:
http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/#people
Hope to hear more from you :)