Messages of the Eloquent by Muhammad Kurd Ali

Rasa'il al-Bulagha' (Epistles of the Eloquent)
Muhammad Kurd Ali
Literature
76,774 words
If the pinnacle of eloquence is to express the noblest meanings with the most articulate and beautiful phrases, and if letters are the most eloquent messengers of words, delivering them to their recipients quickly and intimately, reaching both the mind and heart, then what if the letters themselves were sent by the eloquent? With the eye of a discerning, sharp-minded author, Muhammad Kurd Ali compiles a truly unique collection of "Rasa'il al-Bulagha'" (Epistles of the Eloquent), most of which revolve around correspondence between friends, and between brothers. He prefaced it with the pearls of Ibn al-Muqaffa': "Al-Adab al-Saghir" and "Al-Yatima," among others, and included "Rasa'il al-Hikma" (Epistles of Wisdom) penned by Abd al-Hamid al-Katib, and "Al-Risala al-Adhra' fi Mawazin al-Balagha wa Adawat al-Kitaba" (The Virgin Epistle on the Balances of Eloquence and Tools of Writing) by Abi al-Yusr al-Mudabbar, and "Mulqa al-Sabil" by Abi al-Ala al-Ma'arri, and Ibn al-Qarih's epistle to him, which is considered a key to understanding "Risalat al-Ghufran" (The Epistle of Forgiveness). He also added "Masa'il al-Intiqad" (Issues of Criticism) by Ibn Sharaf al-Qayrawani, and "Kitab al-Adab wal-Muru'a" (The Book of Etiquette and Chivalry)