The Hidden Essence In The Shell Of The Three Arts, By Algerian Scholar Abderrahmane Akhdari: A Descriptive Comparative Approach

Abstract

Abu Zeid Abderrahman Al-Akhdari, a prominent Algerian scholar in the 10th century AH, was known for his exceptional intelligence and diverse scientific interests in religion, language, literature, as well as his involvement in Sufism and traveling in pursuit of knowledge. I have chosen a prominent linguistic field in which this scholar excelled, namely the science of rhetoric in its various forms. Al-Akhdari authored a poetic work titled "Al-Jawhar Al-Maknun fi Saddaf Al-Thalathah Funun" (The Hidden Essence in the Shell of the Three Arts), consisting of 291 lines. The author himself provided an explanation of this text. Therefore, I will first introduce its scientific content, particularly its organization, and then proceed to explain and compare it with the most significant commentaries that have addressed it, as this is of utmost importance. However, this will not neglect the aspects emphasized by the Algerian scholar Al-Akhdari, highlighting the points of distinction and the additions contained in his famous poetic work. Thus, my aim is to combine the composition, explanation, and study of the text.