By Mohamed Shaaker: n nThe Egyptian General Book Authority has released a new edition of “Al-Taysir wal-I’tibar wal-Tahrir wal-Ikhtibar fi ma Yajib min Husn al-Tadabbur wal-Tasarruf wal-Ikhtiyar,” authored by Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalil al-Asadi and meticulously edited by Dr. Abdul Qader Ahmed Tleimat. Accompanying the text is an economic analysis by Dr. Shouki Ahmed Denya, shedding light on one of the most significant Arabic economic manuscripts from the 15th century. n nThis publication revives a long-overlooked intellectual figure whose work predates modern critiques of Adam Smith’s theory of resource scarcity by centuries. Al-Asadi, writing in 855 AH, argued that economic crises stem not from limited resources but from poor management and unequal wealth distribution, offering a broader perspective than earlier thinkers like Al-Maqrizi, who focused narrowly on inflation and currency issues. n nThe manuscript reveals al-Asadi as one of the earliest scholars to apply analytical reasoning and historical observation to economic problems, diverging from the predominantly normative and jurisprudential approaches common in Islamic economic thought at the time. n nEditor Dr. Abdul Qader Tleimat suggests al-Asadi may have served as a market inspector (muhtasib) and authored reformist texts addressed to rulers, warning against administrative corruption and mismanagement that lead to economic decline. n nDr. Shouki Denya’s study contextualizes al-Asadi’s work within a period marked by feudal land control, widespread governmental corruption, and a collapsing monetary system, which triggered severe inflation and mass migration of rural laborers. In response, al-Asadi produced a comprehensive reform proposal identifying the root causes of societal decay and proposing practical solutions for revitalizing the agricultural economy. n nThe Egyptian General Book Authority underscores that republishing this rare work contributes to reviving authentic intellectual traditions in Arab heritage and opens new avenues for studying the origins of economic thought in Egypt and the wider Islamic world. Al-Asadi stands out as a pioneer of political economy long before its formal emergence in Europe. n— news from Masrawy n
— News Original —nReveals Roots of Economic Thought… Book Authority Publishes “Al-Taysir wal-I’tibar” by Al-Asadi n nBy Mohamed Shaaker: n nThe Egyptian General Book Authority, as part of the “Civilizational Heritage” series, has published the book “Al-Taysir wal-I’tibar wal-Tahrir wal-Ikhtibar.. on What is Required for Good Management, Conduct, and Choice,” authored by Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalil al-Asadi, edited by Dr. Abdul Qader Ahmed Tleimat, with a parallel economic study by Dr. Shouki Ahmed Denya. The book is considered one of the most important economic texts in Arab heritage, offering an early insight into the depth of Egypt’s economic experience during the 15th century. n nThis work is being published after centuries of neglect of al-Asadi’s figure, despite his book, dated 855 AH, being among the most prominent references that preceded modern criticism of Adam Smith’s theory of resource scarcity, which formed the basis of classical economics. n nAl-Asadi asserts in his book that the core of economic crisis lies not in resource scarcity but in poor management and unequal wealth distribution within society, presenting a comprehensive view that goes beyond the one-dimensional approach presented by Al-Maqrizi in “Ighathat al-Umma” regarding inflation and money. n nThe book reveals that al-Asadi was among the first thinkers to address economic problems using an analytical and realistic methodology, relying on reason, observation, and historical facts, at a time when Islamic economic thought was largely confined to normative and jurisprudential discourse. n nThe editor, Dr. Abdul Qader Tleimat, indicates that al-Asadi may have held the position of market inspector (muhtasib), and left behind a collection of reformist writings directed at rulers, warning against administrative corruption and poor governance and their resulting economic ruin. n nDr. Shouki Denya’s study highlights the economic and political climate in which al-Asadi lived, characterized by feudal control over land, widespread corruption in state institutions, and deterioration of the monetary system, leading to extreme inflation and large-scale migration of agricultural labor. In response to this reality, al-Asadi wrote his extensive work, which serves as an early reform project, describing the causes of “corruption of conditions and ruin of the country,” proposing practical solutions to address the deteriorating agricultural economic system. n nThe Egyptian General Book Authority confirms that publishing this valuable work represents a revival of an authentic intellectual path in Arab heritage and opens a new door to studying the roots of economic thought in Egypt and the Islamic world, especially since al-Asadi is considered one of the pioneers of political economy long before the emergence of this science in Europe.