Awad, Ibrahim

doi:10.21608/mjoms.2025.381352.1214

"The Humorous Epistle" by Ibn Zaydun: A New Perspective

Author

Ibrahim Awad

Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University

10.21608/mjoms.2025.381352.1214

Abstract

This study presents a new perspective on Ibn Zaydun’s epistle known as “The Humorous Epistle,” which is attributed to Wallada bint al-Mustakfi but was in fact authored by Ibn Zaydun himself. He wrote it mockingly in her voice to satirize his rival, the minister Ibn Abdus. Although it is labeled as “humorous,” its tone is closer to sarcasm, as it goes beyond mere amusement to biting satire and veiled insult. The fundamental difference between humor and sarcasm lies in their intent: humor seeks to entertain, while sarcasm conceals disdain beneath a playful surface. The epistle begins with “Amma Ba‘d” (a classical Arabic formula akin to “Now then”) in an unusual context, acting as a sudden jolt that thrusts the reader into a harsh satirical atmosphere. The epistle portrays Ibn Abdus as repugnant, weak, and pretentious, but ultimately it backfires on its author. Wallada was angered by it and distanced herself from Ibn Zaydun, favoring his rival instead. Thus, the text transforms into a document that exposes the writer’s emotional turmoil and weakness more than it humiliates his enemy. When compared to purely humorous works, such as those by Ibn Sudun, it becomes evident that Ibn Zaydun’s epistle is not light-hearted entertainment but a piece of sarcasm laced with bitterness and spite. In the end, this epistle stands as an example of rhetorical cleverness misapplied—one that turned to the detriment of its author.

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