Fārābi’s theory of Iqā’ in the treatise “Ihsā’ al-Iqā’āt” and the study of its gradual development through his works on music together with an introduction of the sole manuscript of the treatise

Ihsā’ al-Iqā’āt is an Arabic essay on the Iqa’āt of music authored by Abu Nasr Farabi. Considering his access to the written as well as oral sources of the renown musicologists of the early centuries and the possibility of his utilizing and examining such sources, Farabi’s exposition of the Iqā’ theory, demonstrates the invaluable place of this treatise among his other writings on music.This article, by examining Farabi’s theory of Iqā’ in his Musiqi al-Kabir, Ketāb al-Iqā’ and Ihsā’ al- iqa’āt, explores the development of this theory and the process of its perfection in the treatise of Ihsā’ al-Iqā’āt. It will additionally analyze the theory itself. Then, while investigating the influences of Farabi’s views on other musicologists, the article will introduce the sole manuscript of the treatise.