Between Heaven and Hell

This book is a comparative and analytical study of the Epistle of Forgiveness by the Arab writer and poet Abu al-'Alaa al-Ma'arri and Paradise Lost by the English poet John Milton. Many Arab writers and critics believe that Milton was influenced by al-Ma'arri. This book presents the correspondences and differences between the two works and refutes the claim that Paradise Lost drew on the Epistle of Forgiveness. Milton and al-Ma'arri have dealt with the idea of an imaginary journey to the other world but the difference is great between the two in form and in substance. The Epistle of Forgiveness was written as an answer to an epistle sent to al-Ma'arri by Ibn al-Qarih. Al-Ma'arri sends Ibn al-Qarih in an imaginary journey to the other world. This journey gives al-Ma'arri the chance to mock Ibn al-Qarih and it also provides him with a perfect opportunity to show his historical, literary, linguistic, theological and philosophical knowledge. On the other hand, Milton's Paradise Lost was the culminating point in his political, religious and literary career and in which he attempted to discuss the Fall of Adam and Eve and to "justify the ways of God to men".