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Blind Rationalist Poet of the Islamic Golden Age, Author of Risalat al-Ghufran (Resentment/Forgiveness)
Lifespan: 973 – 1057
"Do not suppose the statements of the prophets to be true; they are all fabrications. Men lived comfortably until they came..."
Abū al-ʻAlāʻ al-Maʻarrī (973 – 1057) was a blind Arab philosopher, poet, and writer. Despite holding a controversial rationalist worldview, he is considered one of the greatest classical Arabic poets.
Born in Ma'arrat al-Nu'man, Syria, Al-Ma'arri lost his sight at age four to smallpox. He adopted strict veganism and asceticism. His masterwork Risalat al-Ghufran (The Epistle of Forgiveness) describes a journey through Paradise and Hell, conversing with pagan poets.
On Unodio, stream unabridged audiobooks of Al-Ma'arri's Risalat al-Ghufran, view ancient poetry guides, and access classic audio.
Grouped by series and standalone titles. All audio formats stream on-site.
| Book Title | Series | Format Available | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📖 The Epistle of Forgiveness (Risalat al-Ghufran) | Visionary Epics | Audiobook, Full Text | 1033 |
Literary recognition and editorial blurbs for Al-Ma'arri
"Risalat al-Ghufran is the 11th-century visionary journey through Paradise and Hell that predated Dante's Inferno by 300 years."
— Arabian Literature Review"Al-Ma'arri's rationalism and compassionate veganism stand as a marvel of medieval freethought."
— Journal of Islamic PhilosophyStream free unabridged recordings directly on our player
Common questions regarding Al-Ma'arri audiobooks, series order, and formats
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