Abu þl-Faá¸Âl Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn IbrÃÂhëm al-NaysÃÂbà «rë al-MaydÃÂnë (died 27 October 1124) was an Arab scholar in Persia, an expert on Arabic philology and on Islamic adab (etiquette).
Little is known of al-MaydÃÂnë's life. He was a native of Nishapur (Arabic NaysÃÂbà «r) and took his surnames from his place of residence off the maydÃÂn ZiyÃÂd. He was educated in Nishapur under the QurþÃÂnic scholars Abu þl-Ḥasan al-WÃÂḥidë (died 1076), Yaÿqà «b ibn Aḥmad al-Kurdë and ÿAlë al-MujÃÂshiÿë al-Farazdaqë. He in turn taught Abu þl-Ḥasan al-Bayhaqë. He died on 27 October 1124 and was buried in the cemetery of the maydÃÂn quarter on 5 November 1124.
Fifteen works by al-MaydÃÂnë are known, of which the most famous is the paremiological Majmaÿ al-amthÃÂl, which remains the "most popular collection of classical Arabic proverbs". It was produced around the same time as al-Zamakhsharë's collection in response to a request by the majlis (council) of Muntajab al-Mulk Abà « ÿAlë Muḥammad ibn ArslÃÂn, the kÃÂtib (secretary) of the Sultan Aḥmad Sanjar. Many abridged versions of the Majmaÿ have been made, the first appearing in 1137. An edition with Turkish annotations appeared in 1627 and a full translation in 1877. A Latin translation by Georg Freytag, entitled Arabum Proverbia, was published at Bonn in 1838âÂÂ1843. At least two versifications have also been made, the first in 1668.
Al-MaydÃÂnë's other works include an edition of the rasÃÂþil (letters) of Maná¹£à «r al-Harawë (died 1048); an ArabicâÂÂPersian dictionary, completed in 1104; a critique of al-Jawharë's earlier Arabic dictionary; and various grammatical and philological works and commentaries.