{"product_id":"the-epistle-of-forgiveness-9780814763780","title":"The Epistle of Forgiveness","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the most unusual books in classical Arabic literature, \u003ci\u003eThe Epistle of Forgiveness\u003c\/i\u003e is the lengthy reply by the prolific Syrian poet and prose writer Abu l-'Ala' al-Ma'arri (d. 449\/1057), to a letter written by an obscure grammarian, Ibn al-Qarih. With biting irony, \u003ci\u003eThe Epistle of Forgiveness\u003c\/i\u003e mocks Ibn al-Qarih's hypocrisy and sycophancy by imagining he has died and arrived with some difficulty in Heaven, where he meets famous poets and philologists from the past. He also glimpses Hell, and converses with the Devil and various heretics. Al-Ma'arri—a maverick, a vegan, and often branded a heretic himself—seems to mock popular ideas about the Hereafter. This book, the first of two volumes, includes Ibn al-Qarih’s initial letter to al-Ma'arri, as well as the first half of \u003ci\u003eThe Epistle of Forgiveness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis translation is the first complete translation in any language and retains the many digressions, difficult passages, and convoluted grammatical discussions of the original typically omitted in other translations. It is accompanied by a comprehensive introduction and detailed annotation. Replete with erudite commentary, amusing anecdotes, and sardonic wit, \u003ci\u003eThe Epistle of Forgiveness\u003c\/i\u003e is an imaginative tour-de-force by one of the most pre-eminent figures in classical Arabic literature.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA bilingual Arabic-English edition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Abū l-ʿAlāʾ al-Maʿarrī","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48272935026939,"sku":"9780814763780","price":54.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/3917\/9771\/files\/CoreSourceHub_ecfe7d84-f9d7-4cbe-8836-6f24b154971a.jpg?v=1770994973","url":"https:\/\/indiepubs.com\/products\/the-epistle-of-forgiveness-9780814763780","provider":"IndiePubs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}