The Nature of the Book “Arba’īn” by As'ad ibn Ibrāhim Irbalī

The book “Arba’īn”  by by As'ad ibn Ibrāhim Irbalī has gained recognition among Shiite writers, at least from the eighth century, and discusses the virtues of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him). Irbalī 's obscurity among later Shiites, coupled with occurrence of changes in recording his names, has led Shiite bibliographers to confusion, resulting in the emergence of two personalities: "As'ad ibn Ibrāhīm al-Ḥillī" and "Sa'd al-Irbalī." A textual analysis of the book Arba’īn, in comparison with historical information, indicates that As'ad ibn Ibrahim Irbalī refers to none other than Abu al-Majd al-Nashābī, a prominent poet, writer, and influential figure of the seventh century. Moreover, by comparing Arba’īn  by Irbalī with Arba’īn  by Muhammad ibn Abi Muslim ibn Abi al-Fawāris, it becomes evident that Irbalī ‘s Arba’īn  is, in fact, a manipulated version of Ibn Abi al-Fawāris’s work. Even the introduction to Irbalī ‘s Arba’īn is fabricated and is based on the introduction of Ibn Abi al-Fawāris’s Arba’īn. The alterations in Irbalī's writing are extensive and follow relatively clear patterns. Finally, considering As'ad ibn Ibrahim's religious and political inclinations, as well as his personal, social, and literary characteristics, it seems inappropriate to attribute this book to him. It is likely that a forger with a penchant for (Ghuluv) exaggeration in the seventh century, by applying changes in Abi al-Fawāris’s Arba’īn, ascribed a new composition to As'ad ibn Ibrahim.