Our Arab Islamic Heritage And The Question Of Documentation In Children's Literature Through Manuscripts: The Manuscript Of Ahmad Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami (D. 973 H) "Clarification Of The Discourse On The Manners, Rulings And Benefits Needed By The Educators

Abstract

Historians generally agree that children’s literature exists wherever childhood exists, and is an integral part of its material, psychological and spiritual needs. Just as a child needs food and drink, care and affection, so he or she has an urgent need for intellectual enrichment which delights the mind and the emotions. If these material and moral needs are not met, the child will be vulnerable to suffering and distress because these needs are part of his or her nature. Throughout history, nations and civilisations, including our Arab Islamic civilisation, have instinctively recognised the needs of children and provided what entertains and enriches their experiences, especially in the field of education in general and Islamic education in particular, which our Muslim scholars have documented in their works. This research aims to study one of the manuscripts dealing with children’s literature by prominent Arab Muslim scholars, particularly Ibn Hajar al-Haythami in his manuscript entitled “Tahrir al-Maqal fi Adabwa Ahkamwa Fawa’id Yahtaj Ilayha Mu’allim al-Atfal”. The study includes an introduction to the author and his work, highlighting the importance and scholarly value of this manuscript, the methodology used by the author and the main manuscript copies used. The study concludes that IbnHajar al-Haythami was one of the scholars who extracted pedagogical opinions and ideas derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah through this work, which is one of the finest manuscripts discussing various aspects related to guidance and warnings directed to those responsible for the educational process, particularly teachers and learners in general.