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A
saying is circulating in our contemporary society, that “The book is
known from its title”, which is quite correct. Moreover, in the world of
manuscripts and heritage the book is not only known from its title but
also from its preamble, in which preceding writers displayed their
literary talent and introduced the main theme.
The
preamble usually consists of the Hamdala (Pronouncing the formula al-Hamd
li-Allāh; “Thank and Praise be to Allāh”) and blessing and
praising prophet Muhammad, in addition to other matters that the author
would like to include, like indicating the person or event that inspired
him to write the book.
The
Hamdala takes the precedence in every preamble-Dībājah -(The
Persian word for silk brocade) or in the introduction of the book. It is
expressed differently from one text to another, except for some writers.
For instance, Imam al-Suyūtiy always starts his treatises with the
following statement: “Thank and praise be to Allāh and peace be
upon His prophets”.
Between
thousands of preambles in Arabic and Islamic heritage, we selected the
ones that highlight the main theme and display the authors’ innovation.
Let us consider how the Hamdala is employed for various purposes and in
different styles, reflecting at the same time the author’s literary
skill and good command of rhetoric.
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