Al-Farazdaq
Encyclopedia
Hammam ibn Ghalib Abu Firas, commonly known as al-Farazdaq (Arabicized form of Persian
Parāzda پرازده: "lump of dough") (ca. 641 - ca. 728-730) was an Arab
poet
.
He was born in Kazma
and lived at Basra
. He was a member of Darim, one of the most respected divisions of the Bani Tamim, and his mother was of the tribe of Dabba
. His grandfather Sa'sa' was a Bedouin
of great repute, his father Ghalib followed the same manner of life until Basra was founded, and was famous for his generosity and hospitality.
At the age of 15, Farazdaq was known as a poet, and though checked for a short time by the advice of the caliph Ali
to devote his attention to the study of the Qur'an
, he soon returned to making verse. In the true Bedouin spirit he devoted his talent largely to satire
and attacked the Bani Nahshal and the Bani Fuqaim. When Ziyad
, a member of the latter tribe, became governor of Basra in 669
, the poet was compelled to flee, first to Kufa
, and then, as he was still too near Ziyad, to Medina
, where he was well received by the city's emir
, Said ibn al-As. Here he remained about ten years, writing satires on Bedouin tribes, but avoiding city politics.
But he lived a prodigal life, and his amorous verses led to his expulsion by the caliph Marwan I
. Just at that time he learned of the death of Ziyad and returned to Basra, where he secured the favor of Ziyad's successor Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
. Much of his poetry was now devoted to his matrimonial affairs. He had taken advantage of his position as guardian and married his cousin Nawar against her will. She sought help in vain from the court of Basra and from various tribes. All feared the poet's satires. At last she fled to Mecca
and appealed to the political contender to the Ummayids Abdallah ibn Zubayr, who, however, succeeded in inducing her to consent to a confirmation of the marriage.
Quarrels soon arose again. Farazdaq took a second wife, and after her death a third, to annoy Nawar. Finally he consented to a divorce pronounced by Hasan al-Basri. Another subject occasioned a long series of verses, namely his feud with his rival Jarir and his tribe the Bani Kulaib. These poems are published as the Nakaid of Jarir and al-Farazdaq.
Al-Farazdaq became official poet to the Umayyad
caliph
Al-Walid I (reigned 705–715), to whom he dedicated a number of panegyrics.
He is most famous for the poem that he gave in Makkah when Ali bin Hussain bin Ali bin Abu Talib (Zayn al-Abidin) entered the Haram of the Kaba angering the emir. The poem is extremely powerful. It is because of this poem that he was imprisoned.
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
Parāzda پرازده: "lump of dough") (ca. 641 - ca. 728-730) 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...
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...
.
He was born in Kazma
Kazma
Kazma is a city in Kuwait. It is located in Al Jahra Governorate, 40 km north of Kuwait City, the capital of Kuwait. It is a city with a long history, known to Arabs since the Jahiliyyah and the early Islamic eras. It was also the home of the Iad and Banu Wa'el tribes...
and lived at Basra
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...
. He was a member of Darim, one of the most respected divisions of the Bani Tamim, and his mother was of the tribe of Dabba
Dabba
Dabba is a South African company that is pioneering the establishment of village telcos. It uses wireless technology to provide voice and data services to under-serviced areas...
. His grandfather Sa'sa' was a Bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
of great repute, his father Ghalib followed the same manner of life until Basra was founded, and was famous for his generosity and hospitality.
At the age of 15, Farazdaq was known as a poet, and though checked for a short time by the advice of the caliph Ali
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
to devote his attention to the study of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
, he soon returned to making verse. In the true Bedouin spirit he devoted his talent largely to satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
and attacked the Bani Nahshal and the Bani Fuqaim. When Ziyad
Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan
Ziyad ibn Abeeh where 'Abeeh' means 'his father' since his ancestry is disputed. was a Muslim general and administrator and a member of the clan of the Umayyads.-Biography:...
, a member of the latter tribe, became governor of Basra in 669
669
Year 669 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 669 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Deaths :* December 31 – Li Shiji, Chinese...
, the poet was compelled to flee, first to Kufa
Kufa
Kufa is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000....
, and then, as he was still too near Ziyad, to Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
, where he was well received by the city's emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
, Said ibn al-As. Here he remained about ten years, writing satires on Bedouin tribes, but avoiding city politics.
But he lived a prodigal life, and his amorous verses led to his expulsion by the caliph Marwan I
Marwan I
Marwan ibn al-Hakam was the fourth Umayyad Caliph, who took over the dynasty after Muawiya II abdicated in 684. Marwan's ascension pointed to a shift in the lineage of the Umayyad dynasty from descendants of Abu Sufyan to those of Hakam, both of whom were grandsons of Umayya...
. Just at that time he learned of the death of Ziyad and returned to Basra, where he secured the favor of Ziyad's successor Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad
Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad
Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad was a son of Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan after whose death in 673 he became the Governor of Kufa and Basra and later Khurasan.He also minted coinage, which survives to this day...
. Much of his poetry was now devoted to his matrimonial affairs. He had taken advantage of his position as guardian and married his cousin Nawar against her will. She sought help in vain from the court of Basra and from various tribes. All feared the poet's satires. At last she fled to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
and appealed to the political contender to the Ummayids Abdallah ibn Zubayr, who, however, succeeded in inducing her to consent to a confirmation of the marriage.
Quarrels soon arose again. Farazdaq took a second wife, and after her death a third, to annoy Nawar. Finally he consented to a divorce pronounced by Hasan al-Basri. Another subject occasioned a long series of verses, namely his feud with his rival Jarir and his tribe the Bani Kulaib. These poems are published as the Nakaid of Jarir and al-Farazdaq.
Al-Farazdaq became official poet to the Umayyad
Umayyad
The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four major Arab caliphates established after the death of Muhammad. It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the...
caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
Al-Walid I (reigned 705–715), to whom he dedicated a number of panegyrics.
He is most famous for the poem that he gave in Makkah when Ali bin Hussain bin Ali bin Abu Talib (Zayn al-Abidin) entered the Haram of the Kaba angering the emir. The poem is extremely powerful. It is because of this poem that he was imprisoned.