Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Abu al-Atahiya

Role / Field:

Prominent Abbasid poet known for ascetic verses, rivaling Bashshār and Abū Nuwās.

Born:

748

Died:

826

Century / Era:

748s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Abū al-ʻAtāhiyya (Arabic: أبو العتاهية; 748–828), full name Abu Ishaq Isma'il ibn al-Qasim ibn Suwayd Al-Anzi (أبو إسحاق إسماعيل بن القاسم بن سويد العنزي), was one of the principal Arab poets of the early Islamic era, a prolific muwallad poet of ascetics who ranked with Bashshār and Abū Nuwās, both of whom he met. He renounced poetry for a time on religious grounds. Abū l-ʻAtāhiyya was born in Ayn al-Tamr in Karbala. There are two views regarding his lineage: the first is that he was from the Anazzah tribe, while the other is that his family were mawali of the tribe of ʻAnaza.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His youth was spent in Kufa, where he sold pottery. While he was selling pottery, he saw poets assemble for a competition and participated in it. Later, he composed eulogia to the governor of Tabaristan, emir Umar Ibn al-Alā (783-4/ 167AH). With his reputation growing, Abū l-ʻAtāhiyya was drawn to Baghdad, the seat of the Abbāsid court where he soon became famous for his verses, especially for those addressed to ‘Utbah, a concubine of the Abbasid Caliph al-Mahdi. His love was unrequited, although Caliph al-Mahdi, and after him Caliph ar-Rashīd, interceded for him.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

At one point he offended the caliph...

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Frequently Asked Questions about Abu al-Atahiya