Al-lmta' wal Mu'anasa Book Reviewed in the Light of Reception Theory

Abstract

This research aims to introduce the recipient to the heritage of Arab thought, during the fourth century AH, from the main Arabic books, and an established writer and thinker, Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi, in his book Al-Imta' wal Mu’anasa, (Enjoyment and Sociability), according to the visions and perspective of modern reading in the twenty-first century.

We live in a time of increasing cultural councils and forums, which we hope will advance the cultural reality and contribute positively to the Iraqi and Arab cultural scene.  We will learn about the methods of dialogue, persuasion, and argumentation to reach the truth.

Al-Tawhidi's book reveals to us the image and level of society, councils, scholars, and ministers that he lived with, to be an image of his era, and we learn about how the writer confronted other opinions and thoughts.

 I have reached results that you will find in the conclusion of the research, including:

1-The book was not improvised, but rather the writer subjected it to 

2-The book contains news, sciences, and knowledge that were not mentioned in the books of hopes, tales, and councils.

 3-Al-Tawhidi demonstrated his scientific ability and his encyclopedic memory throughout forty nights in the council of the minister (Ibn Saadan).

4-In the book: aesthetic style and mastery in narration, clarifying ambiguity, and completing imperfections.

5-One of the characteristics of (Al-Tawhidi) is his fear in publishing some of his books, because he mentions shortcomings and defects in them and criticizes those of authority and the scholars of his time.