The wise of the mad

Book title: The Wise of the Mad Edition: Second, 1418 AH Author's name: Abu al-Qasim al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Habib (d. 406 AH) Researcher’s name: Omar al-Asaad Publisher: Dar al-Nafaes - Lebanon Book format: Cardboard binding, white paper Publication date: 1436-2015 AD Book size: 17×24 Number of pages: 384 The widest book written about the news of the wise of the mad. Collected by al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Habib al-Nisaburi (d. 406 AH), and he mentioned in his introduction those who preceded him in writing on this subject, namely: al-Jahiz, ibn Abi al-Dunya, Ahmad ibn Luqman, and Abu Ali: Sahl ibn Ali al-Baghdadi. He stated that what these authors wrote is only a part, and that his book contains what they authored, as well as other collected and analyzed material. He said: "And I wrote this book unlike those books; it is a book sufficient for the reader to hesitate and browse through the books, and I hope I was not the first to do so." The book was introduced with an introduction, in which he discussed the definition of madness, its various meanings, synonyms in language, and the popular sayings about foolishness and fools, madness in animals, types of mad people, and the reasons that led some rational people to feign madness. The book also talks about the types of mad people, including men and women, famous and unknown, and what has been reported about each of their jokes and amusing stories. The book was first published in Damascus in 1343 AH, in 163 pages, with a commentary by Wajih al-Kilani, and an introduction by Muhammad Kurd Ali. It was then published in Najaf in 1387 AH, in 188 pages, with a commentary by Muhammad Bahr al-Uloom. A verified edition was published in 1987 AD, edited carefully by Dr. Omar al-Asaad, based on three handwritten copies, the most important of which is: the Deir al-Ikshuriya copy, because it is dated and authenticated, well-preserved, with connected chain of narration, copied in the year 1276 AH. (End of excerpt from al-Warraq)