Small literature and large literature

Author's name: Ibn al-Muqaffa

The author of this book is Abu Muhammad Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa, the famous eloquent writer and author of wonderful letters. He was from Persia, who was accused of heresy and became increasingly agitated after his death. His book “Al-Adab al-Saghir wa al-Adab al-Kabir” is a book of great value and immense benefit. In it, Ibn al-Muqaffa delivers a sound and penetrating view of human life as a whole, in its interactions and morals, literature, livelihood, and thoughts. He then promotes good deeds and good manners, and reinforces the ambitions of ambitious people with far-reaching aspirations. He encourages righteousness, piety, and forbearance in every new endeavor a person undertakes and in every word he utters. He elevates the status of reason and wisdom, and protects even the most pious from excess and falling into recklessness, rashness, and passion. He addresses the mind with his sublime ideas just as he addresses the heart with his refined, eloquent, and gentle language. A flowing, calm style, like the sea breeze, devoid of affectation or embellishment. The rough seas don't tempt you to reach your goal, but rather convey its meanings within the confines of its premises. Therefore, the book is of great value, especially given that it sheds much light on the literature of an important phase of our Arabic literature, within the framework of prose and correspondence, on many aspects of literature, from meetings with kings and governors to the simplest aspects of life.