Rare Lovers Ibrahim Zidan

"نوادر العشاق" is a work by the Lebanese writer Ibrahim Zeidan, in which he collected stories and poems from ancient Arabic literary heritage, focusing on one central theme: the stories and poems of lovers, the intricacies of their relationships, and the fates that befell them. The book is divided into six sections, each branching into several topics, where the main characters are introduced with a quick excerpt about their lives. The first section discussed anecdotes of caliphs, and came in several chapters: Harun al-Rashid, the concubine, and Abu Nuwas; al-Ma'mun and his concubine. The second section was about anecdotes of Banu Odhra, and we mention from its chapters: the sweeper of Banu Odhra, and Buthaina's promise to Jameel. As for the third section, it was about anecdotes of Banu Amir, and we give an example from its chapters: the separated lover, Layla's trial of Qays ibn al-Mulawwah. And the fourth: anecdotes of lovers from among poets, and from its chapters: Sareeh al-Ghawani, Asma and Majeed. The fifth section dealt with miscellaneous anecdotes of lovers, and from its chapter divisions: Naseeb and Zaynab, a lover's secret. The last section was about the fates of lovers. And from it, we mention two chapters: Al-Mubarrad and his companions and the madman, Al-Asma'i and one of the lovers.