Ahmad ibn-al-Husayn al-Mutanabbi
Encyclopedia
Abu at-Tayyib Ahmad ibn al-Husayn al-Mutanabbi (915
– 23 September 965) was an Arab
(Iraq
i-born) poet
. He is considered as one of the greatest poets in the Arabic language
. Most of his poetry revolves around praising the kings he visited during his lifetime. Some consider his 326 poems to be a great representation of his life story. He started versifying when he was nine years old. He is well known for his sharp intelligence and wittiness. Al-Mutanabbi had a great pride in himself through his poetry. Among the topics he discussed were courage, the philosophy of life, and the description of battles. Many of his poems were and still are widely spread in today's Arab world and are considered to be proverbial.
His great talent brought him very close to many leaders of that time. He praised those leaders and kings in return for money and gifts. His powerful and honest poetic style earned great popularity in his time.
in Iraq
in 915. He was the son of a water carrier. In his youth, Al-Mutanabbi was educated in Syria
Damascus
. His nickname Al-Mutanabbi means "The one who wants to become a Prophet
" or the would-be prophet", the reason for this controversial nickname is not entirely known, some say that he claimed to be the predecessor of prophet Saleh
. Others claim it is his political activities that won the young poet the unusual nickname when he led a revolutionary movement in his home town in 932. The revolt was suppressed and the young man was imprisoned. It is during this period that he began to write his first known poems. Al-Mutanabbi had great political ambitions to be Wali
, to fulfill his ambitions he joined the courts of Sayf al-Daula
and Abu al-Misk Kafur
but his ambitions failed.
of Aleppo
. Ruling this greatly independent state at the time of Al-Mutanabbi was Sayf al-Daula
.
Al-Mutanabbi joined the court of Sayf al-Daula
in 948. Sayf al-Daula
was greatly concerned with fighting the Byzantine Empire
in Asia minor
where Al-Mutanabbi fought along side him. During his nine years stay at Sayf al-Daula's court, Al-Mutanabbi versified his greatest and most famous poems.
During his stay in Aleppo, great rivalry occur between Al-Mutanabbi and many scholars and poets in Sayf al-Daula's court, one of those poets was Abu Firas al-Hamdani
, Sayf al-Daula's cousin. In addition, Al-Mutanabbi lost Sayf al-Daula's favor because of his political ambition to be Wāli
. Al-Mutanabbi had no other choice but to leave Aleppo
heading toward Egypt
.
, but the latter did not bestow the visiting poet as he expected. At that time Al-Mutanabbi realized that his hopes of becoming a statesman
were not going to be materialized so he left Egypt
in 960. After leaving Egypt
he heavily criticized Abu al-Misk Kafur
with very satirical poems. As a result of those poems Abu al-Misk Kafur
will always be associated with those satirical poems throughout history.
In a famous poem he speaks to the power of identity and the freedom that comes with knowing oneself.
Another rendering of the last line in English reads:
. Ibn Rachik reported that when Al-Mutanabbi wished to flee, his servant awkwardly reminded him of his bold verses; Al-Mutanabbi resolved to live up to them, fought, and died along with his companions in 965 A.D.
915
Year 915 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Garigliano: The Christian League defeats the Saracens.* Berengar I of Italy is crowned Holy Roman Emperor....
– 23 September 965) 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...
(Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i-born) poet
Arabic poetry
Arabic poetry is the earliest form of Arabic literature. Present knowledge of poetry in Arabic dates from the 6th century, but oral poetry is believed to predate that. Arabic poetry is categorized into two main types, rhymed, or measured, and prose, with the former greatly preceding the latter...
. He is considered as one of the greatest poets in the Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
. Most of his poetry revolves around praising the kings he visited during his lifetime. Some consider his 326 poems to be a great representation of his life story. He started versifying when he was nine years old. He is well known for his sharp intelligence and wittiness. Al-Mutanabbi had a great pride in himself through his poetry. Among the topics he discussed were courage, the philosophy of life, and the description of battles. Many of his poems were and still are widely spread in today's Arab world and are considered to be proverbial.
His great talent brought him very close to many leaders of that time. He praised those leaders and kings in return for money and gifts. His powerful and honest poetic style earned great popularity in his time.
Childhood and Youth
Al-Mutanabbi was born in the town of KufahKufah
Kufah may refer to:* Ovophis okinavensis, a.k.a. the Okinawa pitviper, a venomous pitviper species found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.* Alternative English spelling for Kufa, a city in modern Iraq....
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in 915. He was the son of a water carrier. In his youth, Al-Mutanabbi was educated in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
. His nickname Al-Mutanabbi means "The one who wants to become a Prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
" or the would-be prophet", the reason for this controversial nickname is not entirely known, some say that he claimed to be the predecessor of prophet Saleh
Saleh
Saleh or Salih was a prophet of ancient Arabia mentioned in the Qur'an, who prophesied to the tribe of the Thamud. He is mentioned nine times throughout the Qur'an and his people are frequently referenced as a wicked community who, because of their sins, were ultimately destroyed...
. Others claim it is his political activities that won the young poet the unusual nickname when he led a revolutionary movement in his home town in 932. The revolt was suppressed and the young man was imprisoned. It is during this period that he began to write his first known poems. Al-Mutanabbi had great political ambitions to be Wali
Wali
Walī , is an Arabic word meaning "custodian", "protector", "sponsor", or authority as denoted by its definition "crown". "Wali" is someone who has "Walayah" over somebody else. For example, in Fiqh the father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله walīyu 'llāh...
, to fulfill his ambitions he joined the courts of Sayf al-Daula
Sayf al-Daula
Ali ibn Abi al-Hayja 'Abd Allah ibn Hamdan ibn al-Harith Sayf al-Dawla al-Taghlibi , more commonly known simply by his laqab of Sayf al-Dawla , was the ruler of northern Syria and the brother of al-Hasan ibn Hamdan , the founder and the most prominent prince of the Arab Hamdanid dynasty from...
and Abu al-Misk Kafur
Abu al-Misk Kafur
Abu al-Misk Kafur , also called al-Laithi, al-Suri, al-Labi was a dominant personality of Ikhshidid Egypt and Syria. Originally a black slave from Ethiopia, he was promoted as vizier of Egypt, becoming its de facto ruler...
but his ambitions failed.
Al-Mutanabbi and Sayf al-Daula
Al-Mutanabbi lived at the time when the Abbasid Caliphate started coming apart, many of the states in the islamic world became politically and militarily independent from the weak Abbasid Caliphate. Chief among those states was the EmirateEmirate
An emirate is a political territory that is ruled by a dynastic Muslim monarch styled emir.-Etymology:Etymologically emirate or amirate is the quality, dignity, office or territorial competence of any emir ....
of Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
. Ruling this greatly independent state at the time of Al-Mutanabbi was Sayf al-Daula
Sayf al-Daula
Ali ibn Abi al-Hayja 'Abd Allah ibn Hamdan ibn al-Harith Sayf al-Dawla al-Taghlibi , more commonly known simply by his laqab of Sayf al-Dawla , was the ruler of northern Syria and the brother of al-Hasan ibn Hamdan , the founder and the most prominent prince of the Arab Hamdanid dynasty from...
.
Al-Mutanabbi joined the court of Sayf al-Daula
Sayf al-Daula
Ali ibn Abi al-Hayja 'Abd Allah ibn Hamdan ibn al-Harith Sayf al-Dawla al-Taghlibi , more commonly known simply by his laqab of Sayf al-Dawla , was the ruler of northern Syria and the brother of al-Hasan ibn Hamdan , the founder and the most prominent prince of the Arab Hamdanid dynasty from...
in 948. Sayf al-Daula
Sayf al-Daula
Ali ibn Abi al-Hayja 'Abd Allah ibn Hamdan ibn al-Harith Sayf al-Dawla al-Taghlibi , more commonly known simply by his laqab of Sayf al-Dawla , was the ruler of northern Syria and the brother of al-Hasan ibn Hamdan , the founder and the most prominent prince of the Arab Hamdanid dynasty from...
was greatly concerned with fighting the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
in Asia minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
where Al-Mutanabbi fought along side him. During his nine years stay at Sayf al-Daula's court, Al-Mutanabbi versified his greatest and most famous poems.
During his stay in Aleppo, great rivalry occur between Al-Mutanabbi and many scholars and poets in Sayf al-Daula's court, one of those poets was Abu Firas al-Hamdani
Abu Firas al-Hamdani
Abu Firas al-Hamdani was an Arab poet. He was a member of the noble family of the Hamanids, who were rulers in northern Syria and upper Mesopotamia during the 10th century. His most famous work is a collection of poems titled al-Rûmiyât .Abū Firās al-Ḥamdānī, poetic cognomen of al-Ḥārit̲h̲ b. Abi...
, Sayf al-Daula's cousin. In addition, Al-Mutanabbi lost Sayf al-Daula's favor because of his political ambition to be Wāli
Wali
Walī , is an Arabic word meaning "custodian", "protector", "sponsor", or authority as denoted by its definition "crown". "Wali" is someone who has "Walayah" over somebody else. For example, in Fiqh the father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله walīyu 'llāh...
. Al-Mutanabbi had no other choice but to leave Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
heading toward Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Al-Mutanabbi in Egypt
Al-Mutanabbi joined the court of Abu al-Misk KafurAbu al-Misk Kafur
Abu al-Misk Kafur , also called al-Laithi, al-Suri, al-Labi was a dominant personality of Ikhshidid Egypt and Syria. Originally a black slave from Ethiopia, he was promoted as vizier of Egypt, becoming its de facto ruler...
, but the latter did not bestow the visiting poet as he expected. At that time Al-Mutanabbi realized that his hopes of becoming a statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
were not going to be materialized so he left Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 960. After leaving Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
he heavily criticized Abu al-Misk Kafur
Abu al-Misk Kafur
Abu al-Misk Kafur , also called al-Laithi, al-Suri, al-Labi was a dominant personality of Ikhshidid Egypt and Syria. Originally a black slave from Ethiopia, he was promoted as vizier of Egypt, becoming its de facto ruler...
with very satirical poems. As a result of those poems Abu al-Misk Kafur
Abu al-Misk Kafur
Abu al-Misk Kafur , also called al-Laithi, al-Suri, al-Labi was a dominant personality of Ikhshidid Egypt and Syria. Originally a black slave from Ethiopia, he was promoted as vizier of Egypt, becoming its de facto ruler...
will always be associated with those satirical poems throughout history.
Poetry
Mutanabbi's egomaniacal nature seems to have got him in trouble several times and might be why he was killed. This can be seen in his poetry, which is often bombastic.In a famous poem he speaks to the power of identity and the freedom that comes with knowing oneself.
| ʾAnā l-ladhī naẓara l-ʾaʿmā ʾilā ʾadab-ī | Wa-ʾasmaʿat kalimāt-ī man bi-hi ṣamamu | |
| Al-ḫaylu wa-l-laylu wa-l-baydāʾu taʿrifu-nī | Wa-s-saifu wa-r-rumḥu wa-l-qirṭāsu wa-l-qalamu. |
| I, whose literature the blind perceived* | And whose words those who are deaf heard. | |
| The horse, the night and the desert know me | And the sword, the spear, the paper and the pen. |
- Much of the sense of this line is lost in translation, which in Arabic begins with "I" and ends with "my [literature]".
Another rendering of the last line in English reads:
| I am known to the horse-troop, the night and the desert's expanse; |
| Not more to paper and pen than to sword and the lance. |
Death
Al-Mutanabbi was killed because one of his poems contained a great insult to a man called Dhaba al-Asadi (Arabic: ضبة الأسدي Ḍabba al-ʾAsadī). Dhaba, along with his Uncle Fatik al-Asadi (Arabic: فاتك الأسدي Fātik al-ʾAsadī), were determined to kill Al-Mutanabbi because of that poem which contained a great insult to Dhaba. They managed to intercept Al-Mutanabbi, his son Muhassad (Arabic: محسد Muḥassad), and his servant near BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. Ibn Rachik reported that when Al-Mutanabbi wished to flee, his servant awkwardly reminded him of his bold verses; Al-Mutanabbi resolved to live up to them, fought, and died along with his companions in 965 A.D.