Precious Gems in the Qualities of the Fat Woman by the illustrious scholar Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti stands as a timeless masterpiece. This book is not merely a treatise on physical beauty; it is a profound exploration of the cultural, linguistic, and spiritual dimensions of beauty, particularly as it pertains to the fat woman-a figure often celebrated in Arab literature and tradition. This book is divided into three distinct yet interconnected parts, each offering a unique perspective on the subject. Part I serves as an introduction, providing readers with a brief biography of the author, Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, and setting the stage for the themes explored in the subsequent sections. Part II delves into the technical aspects of the topic, examining how the Arabic language defines the fat woman, the Islamic traditions and narrations that celebrate her, and the rich poetic heritage that immortalizes her beauty. Finally, Part III elevates the discussion to discover the complex interplay between beauty, history, spirituality, power, marriage, identity and even religious rituals, with a particular focus on the fat woman as a symbol of abundance, grace, and divine favor.
About the Book
The book is originally a short Arabic treatise and this translation is based on a number of sources as an updated earlier manuscript as far back as the year 996 AH (1588 AD), mainly from the 2016 Edition of the Tunisian Books, Mediterranean Publisher. Thanks also to the 2003 Edition of the Dar al-Mizan, the published part in Majmüat Rasäil fi al-Jamal wa-l-Zina (Kuwait: Dar al-Diyä, 2016), pp. 87-102, the digitized 19th-century versions from Princeton University Library (MS Garrett 283Y, fol. 43b-46a), Berlin Staatsbibliothek (MS Sprenger 190, fol. 112v-115r) and Suleymaniye Library.
This book was undertaken as a companion to two of our previous translations of Al-Suyüi's works:
1.Al-Wishä fi Fawäid al-Nikä (Sash on the Benefits of Marriage)
2. Shagã'iq al-Utrunj fi Raqã'iq al-Ghunj (Halves of the Lemon Regarding the Intricacies of Coquetry) Together, these three volumes offer a comprehensive vision of Al-Suyüi's thought on marriage, beauty, and intimacy. They reveal a scholar who was unafraid to address the most intimate aspects of human experience, who grounded his discussions in the Qur'an and Sunna, and who celebrated the diversity of human bodies and desires as gifts from the Creator.
