I
PHILOLOGY.
1. Die Semitischen Sprachen, by Th. Nöldeke (2nd ed. Leipzig, 1899).
An improved and enlarged reprint of the German original of his article, 'Semitic Languages,' in the Encyclopædia Britannica (9th edition).
2. A Grammar of the Arabic Language, by W. Wright, 3rd ed., revised by W. Robertson Smith and M. J. de Goeje, 2 vols. (Cambridge, 1896-98).
The best Arabic grammar for advanced students. Beginners may prefer to use the abridgment by F. du Pre Thornton, Elementary Arabic: a Grammar (Cambridge University Press, 1905).
3. Arabic-English Lexicon, by E. W. Lane, 8 parts (London, 1863-93).
This monumental work is unfortunately incomplete. Among other lexica those of Freytag (Arabic and Latin, 4 vols., Halle, 1830-37), A. de Biberstein Kazimirski (Arabic and French, 2 vols., Paris, 1846-60, and 4 vols., Cairo, 1875), and Dozy's Supplément aux Dictionnaires arabes, 2 vols. (Leyden, 1881), deserve special notice. Smaller dictionaries, sufficient for ordinary purposes, have been compiled by Belot (Dictionnaire arabe-français, Beyrout, 1928), and Wortabet and Porter (Arabic-English Dictionary, 3rd ed., Beyrout, 1913).
4. Abhandlungen zur Arabischen Philologie, by Ignaz Goldziher, Part I (Leyden, 1896).
Contains masterly studies on the origins of Arabic Poetry and other matters connected with literary history.
5. Die Rhetorik der Araber, by A. F. Mehren (Copenhagen, 1853).
II
GENERAL WORKS ON ARABIAN HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, GEOGRAPHY, LITERATURE, ETC.
6. The Encyclopædia of Islam (Leyden, 1913—).
A great number of Orientalists have contributed to this invaluable work, of which the first half (A-L) is now completed.
7. Chronique de Ṭabarí, traduite sur la version persane de ... Bel‘amí, by H. Zotenberg, 4 vols. (Paris, 1867-74).
8. The Murúju ’l-Dhahab of Mas‘údí (Maçoudi: Les Prairies d'Or), Arabic text with French translation by Barbier de Meynard and Pavet de Courteille, 9 vols., (Paris, 1861-77).
The works of Ṭabarí and Mas‘údí are the most ancient and celebrated Universal Histories in the Arabic language.
9. Abulfedæ Annales Muslemici arabice et latine, by J. J. Reiske, 5 vols. (Hafniæ, 1789-94).
10. Der Islam im Morgen- und Abendland, by August Müller, 2 vols. (Berlin, 1885-87).
11. Histoire des Arabes, by C. Huart, 2 vols. (Paris, 1912).
12. A Short History of the Saracens, by Syed Ameer Ali (London, 1921).
13. Essai sur l'histoire de l'Islamisme, by R. Dozy, translated from the Dutch by Victor Chauvin (Leyden and Paris, 1879).
14. The Preaching of Islam, a History of the Propagation of the Muslim Faith, by T. W. Arnold (2nd ed., London, 1913).
15. Sketches from Eastern History, by Th. Nöldeke, translated by J. S. Black (London, 1892).
16. The Mohammadan Dynasties, by Stanley Lane-Poole (London, 1894).
Indispensable to the student of Moslem history.
17. Genealogische Tabellen der Arabischen Stämme und Familien mit historischen und geographischen Bemerkungen in einem alphabetischen Register, by F. Wüstenfeld (Göttingen, 1852-53).
18. Ibn Khallikán's Biographical Dictionary, translated from the Arabic by Baron MacGuckin de Slane, 4 vols. (Oriental Translation Fund, 1842-71).
One of the most characteristic, instructive, and interesting books in Arabic literature.
19. Géographie d'Aboulféda, traduite de l'arabe, by Reinaud and Guyard, 2 vols. (Paris, 1848-83).
20. Travels in Arabia Deserta, by C. M. Doughty, 2 vols. (Cambridge, 1888).
Gives a true and vivid picture of Bedouin life and manners.
21. Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to al-Madinah and Meccah, by Sir R. F. Burton, 2 vols. (London, 1898).
22. The Penetration of Arabia: a record of the development of Western knowledge concerning the Arabian Peninsula, by D. G. Hogarth (London, 1905).
23. Ḥájjí Khalífa, Lexicon bibliographicum et encyclopædicum, Arabic text and Latin translation, by G. Flügel, 7 vols. (Leipzig and London, 1835-58).
24. Die Geschichtschreiber der Araber und ihre Werke (aus dem xxviii. und xxix. Bande der Abhand. d. Königl. Ges. d. Wiss. zu Göttingen), by F. Wüstenfeld (Göttingen, 1882).
25. Litteraturgeschichte der Araber bis zum Ende des 12. Jahrhunderts der Hidschret, by J. von Hammer-Purgstall, 7 vols. (Vienna, 1850-56).
A work of immense extent, but unscientific and extremely inaccurate.
26. Geschichte der Arabischen Litteratur, by Carl Brockelmann, 2 vols. (Weimar, 1898-1902).
Invaluable for bibliography and biography.
27. A Literary History of Persia, by E. G. Browne, vol. i from the earliest times to Firdawsí (London, 1902), and vol. ii down to the Mongol Invasion (London, 1906).
The first volume in particular of this well-known work contains much information concerning the literary history of the Arabs.
28. A History of Arabic Literature, by Clement Huart (London, 1903).
The student will find this manual useful for purposes of reference.
29. Arabic Literature: an Introduction, by H. A. R. Gibb (London, 1926).
A trustworthy outline of the subject.
30. Arabum Proverbia, Arabic text with Latin translation, by G. W. Freytag, 3 vols. (Bonn, 1838-43).
31. Arabic Proverbs, by J. L. Burckhardt (2nd ed., London, 1875).
III
PRE-ISLAMIC HISTORY, LITERATURE, AND RELIGION.
32. Essai sur l'histoire des Arabes avant l'Islamisme, by A. P. Caussin de Perceval, 3 vols. (Paris, 1847-48).
Affords an excellent survey of Pre-islamic legend and tradition.
33. Geschichte der Perser und Araber zur Zeit der Sasaniden, translated from the Annals of Ṭabarí, by Th. Nöldeke (Leyden, 1879).
The ample commentary accompanying the translation is valuable and important in the highest degree.
34. Fünf Mo‘allaqát übersetzt und erklärt, by Th. Nöldeke (Vienna, 1899-1901).
The omitted Mu‘allaqas are those of Imru’u ’l-Qays and Tarafa.
35. The Seven Golden Odes of Pagan Arabia, translated from the original Arabic by Lady Anne Blunt and done into English verse by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt (London, 1903).
36. Hamâsa oder die ältesten arabischen Volkslieder übersetzt und erläutert, by Friedrich Rückert, 2 vols. (Stuttgart, 1846).
Masterly verse-translations of the old Arabian poetry.
37. Translations of ancient Arabian poetry, chiefly Pre-islamic, with an introduction and notes, by C. J. Lyall (London, 1885).
38. Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Poesie der alten Araber, by Th. Nöldeke (Hannover, 1864).
39. Studien in arabischen Dichtern, Heft iii, Altarabisches Beduinenleben nach den Quellen geschildert, by G. Jacob (Berlin, 1897).
40. Kinship and Marriage in Early Arabia, by W. Robertson Smith (2nd ed., London, 1903).
41. Lectures on the Religion of the Semites, First Series, by W. Robertson Smith, 3rd ed., revised by S. A. Cook (London, 1927).
42. Reste Arabischen Heidentums, by J. Wellhausen (2nd ed., Berlin, 1897).
IV
MUḤAMMAD AND THE KORAN.
43. Das Leben Mohammed's, translated from the Arabic biography of Ibn Hishám by G. Weil, 2 vols. (Stuttgart, 1864).
44. Muhammed in Medina, by J. Wellhausen (Berlin, 1882).
An abridged translation of Wáqidí's work on Muḥammad's Campaigns.
45. Das Leben und die Lehre des Moḥammad, by A. Sprenger, 3 vols. (Berlin, 1861-65).
46. Life of Mahomet, by Sir W. Muir, ed. by T. H. Weir (Edinburgh, 1923).
47. Das Leben Muhammed's nach den Quellen populär dargestellt, by Th. Nöldeke (Hannover, 1863).
48. The Spirit of Islam, by Syed Ameer Ali (London, 1922).
49. Mohammed, by H. Grimme, 2 vols. (Münster, 1892-95).
50. Die weltgeschichtliche Bedeutung Arabiens: Mohammed, by H. Grimme (Munich, 1904).
51. Mohammed and the Rise of Islam, by D. S. Margoliouth in 'Heroes of the Nations' Series (London and New York, 1905).
52. Mohammed and Islam, by A. A. Bevan in The Cambridge Mediæval History, vol. ii, ch. 10 (Cambridge, 1913).
53. Die Person Muhammeds in Lehre und Glauben seiner Gemeinde, by Tor Andrae (Uppsala, 1918).
54. The origin of Islam in its Christian environment, by R. Bell (London, 1926).
55. Annali dell' Islām, by Leone Caetani, Principe di Teano, vol. i (Milan, 1905).
Besides a very full and readable historical introduction this magnificent work contains a detailed account of Muḥammad's life during the first six years after the Hijra (622-628 a.d.).
56. The Koran, translated into English with notes and a preliminary discourse, by G. Sale (London, 1734).
Sale's translation, which has been frequently reprinted, is still serviceable. Mention may also be made of the English versions by J. M. Rodwell (London and Hertford, 1861) and by E. H. Palmer (the best from a literary point of view) in vols. vi and ix of 'The Sacred Books of the East' (Oxford, 1880); reprinted in The World's Classics, vol. 328.
57. Geschichte des Qorâns, by Th. Nöldeke, 2nd ed., revised by F. Schwally (Leipzig, 1909-19).
Cf. Nöldeke's essay, 'The Koran,' in Sketches from Eastern History, pp. 21-59, or his article in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.).
58. The Teaching of the Qur’ān, by H. W. Stanton (London, 1920).