Transoxania, Zarnuji and Poetry for Students

This quotation is taken from a book entitled Kitab Ta'lim al-Muta'allim Tariq al-Ta'allum (A Pedagogical Manual for Students How to Study) written by Burhan al-Islam al-Zarnuji lived circa 539-620H (in Encyclopaedia Iranica his date of death is given at 602H/1223M). The book was published and edited by Maktabah al-Nahdah al-Misriyyah, 1986. The quotation is at p.87. The editor of this book Dr. Muhammad Abd al-Qadir Ahmad tell us that nothing is known about his real name only the place of his birth is Zarnuj, situated on the banks of river Jayhun (arabic name for Oxus river) and Sayhun (arabic name for Jaxarters River) in Transoxania (historical English name for the Arabic Ma Wara' al-Nahr).

تفقّهْ فإن الفقه أفضلُ فائد * الى البر والتقوى وأعْدَلُ قاصد

هو العلم الهادى الى سنن الهدى * هو الحِصْن يُنْجي من جميع الشدائد

فإن فقيها واحدا مُتورّعا * أشدُّ على الشيطان من ألف عابد