Abbas Ibn al-Ahnaf
Encyclopedia
Abu al-Fadl Abbas Ibn al-Ahnaf, (750 in Basra
-809), Arabic, عباس بن الأحنف, was an Arab
Abbasid
poet
from the clan of Hanifa
. His work consists solely of love poems (ghazal
). It is "primarily concerned with the hopelessness of love, and the perosna in his compositions seems resigned to a relationship of deprivation". The vocabulary he chose was simple and his style is fluent and easy.
He grew up in Baghdad, where he became a friend of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid
. who employed him for the purpose of amusing him in time of leisure. His work was an acknowledged influence on Abdullah ibn al-Mu'tazz
and Abu al-Atahiya.
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
-809), Arabic, عباس بن الأحنف, was an Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
Abbasid
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
from the clan of Hanifa
Hanifa
Hanifa may refer to:* Hanifa is an Arabic word that means "true and upright."* V. M. C. Haneefa, Indian actor* Hənifə, Azerbaijan* Hanifa Deen, Australian writer* Hanifa Mavlianova, Russian female singer...
. His work consists solely of love poems (ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
). It is "primarily concerned with the hopelessness of love, and the perosna in his compositions seems resigned to a relationship of deprivation". The vocabulary he chose was simple and his style is fluent and easy.
He grew up in Baghdad, where he became a friend of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid
Harun al-Rashid
Hārūn al-Rashīd was the fifth Arab Abbasid Caliph in Iraq. He was born in Rey, Iran, close to modern Tehran. His birth date remains a point of discussion, though, as various sources give the dates from 763 to 766)....
. who employed him for the purpose of amusing him in time of leisure. His work was an acknowledged influence on Abdullah ibn al-Mu'tazz
Abdullah ibn al-Mu'tazz
Abdullah ibn al-Mu'tazz was persuaded to assume the role of caliph of the Abbasid dynasty following the premature death of al-Muktafi. He succeeded in ruling for a single day and a single night, before he was forced into hiding, found, and then strangled in a palace intrigue that brought...
and Abu al-Atahiya.