"مرايا الأمراء": الجنس الأدبيّ وطبيعة التّسمية

Abstract

The “Mirrors of Princes” is considered one of the most important literary types in Arabic and Islamic heritage. The term can be found in various types of “Adab” products, describing the different features of this type of “Adab”. Among its most important features are the following: first, the inclusion of practical moral and political advice directed to the stratum of rulers in the Islamic state or princedom and its tendency to glorify the ideal ruler and the attempt to embody this idealism within the character of the ruler. Second, its attempt to connect practical policies to the principles of Islam reveals how political idealism runs harmoniously with Islamic jurisprudence.

The article deals with the name “The Mirrors of princes” itself, showing its nature and the extent of its spread among researchers and men of “Adab”. Thus, the article relates to one of the main cultural pillars of the literary heritage. Creative individuals within the framework of this type of “Adab” have viewed the stratum of rulers -regardless of their ranks or administrative hierarchy- as the ultimate goal they try to reach in their classification efforts, with the aim of educating, cultivating, entertaining and amusing. Most literary classifications were submitted as a gift to the rulers, in an attempt to get closer to them. Pragmatic moral and political advice were among the most prominent issues to gain the approval of all rulers of all ranks. They were particularly interested in these materials.

Research on the “Mirrors" can shed light on some cultural trends and tendencies among the sons of the ruling stratum. Ultimately the research is part of the efforts made to study the literary heritage and its contents within the Arab and Islamic culture. Therefore we intend to focus on the nature of the term “Mirrors of the Princes”, which has become most common for this type of literature.