Kitab al-Wahida
كتاب الواحدة في مناقب العرب ومثالبها
The book of Arab merits and flaws item by item — sparked by the Kalbi, Makhzumi and Himyari rivals' exchanges in Hisham's majlis; Abu 'Ubayda's authorship on their tongues, or another Shu'ubi's 1.
At a glance
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Overview
A book on the virtues and vices of the Arabs, giving each tribe its own treatment of what is not shared with the others. 2
Why it was written
Al-Mas'udi links its composition to a discussion held in the assembly of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, between al-Abrash al-Kalbi, al-Abbas ibn al-Walid, Khalid ibn Muslima al-Makhzumi and al-Nadr ibn Maryam al-Himyari, about the virtues and vices of Qahtan and Nizar. 2
The author
There are two accounts of the book's authorship. It is said that Abu Ubayda Ma'mar ibn al-Muthanna composed it in their words, and it is said that someone else among the Shu'ubiyya composed it. 2
Sources
- Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p. 199
- Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p.199
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Kitab al-Wahida”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/work/kitab-al-wahida/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.