Ibn al-Asir: From Genius and Superiority to Narcissism

This study fouses on the transformation of a genius to a narcissist. Narcissism removes man from the normal situation and puts him in an atmosphere of arrogance and conceit. Psychologists have found that genius tend to become narcissists and be afflicted with conceit. This article investigated the Personality of Ibn-al-Asir. This figure in Arabic literature took a creative step in reviving Arabic literature and literature in 6th and 7th centuries, when Arabic literature was in decline. But, he was not immune to narcissism arising from his genius. In this investigation, having surveyed Ibn-al-Asir’s life and literary context, we elaborate on such concepts as genius and narcissism and their interrelationship. Then we consider some of the manifestations of this genius and his superiority and examples of his narcissism as found in his well-known book, Al-Masal Al-Saer.