Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Al-Hariri of Basra

Role / Field:

Renowned Arab poet and scholar, celebrated for elevating the Maqama literary genre.

Born:

1054

Died:

1122-09-10

Century / Era:

1054s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Al-Hariri of Basra (Arabic: أبو محمد القاسم بن علي بن محمد بن عثمان الحريري, romanized: Abū Muhammad al-Qāsim ibn ʿAlī ibn Muhammad ibn ʿUthmān al-Harīrī; c. 1054 – 10 September 1122) was a poet belonging to the Beni Harram tribe of Bedouin Arabs, who lived and died in the city of Basra, modern Iraq. He was a scholar of the Arabic language and a dignitary of the Seljuk Empire, which ruled Iraq during his lifetime, from 1055 to 1135. He is known for his Maqamat al-Hariri (also known as the ‘'Assemblies of Hariri'’), a collection of some 50 stories written in the Maqama style, a mix of verse and literary prose.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

For more than eight centuries, Al-Hariri's best known work, his Maqamat has been regarded as one of the greatest treasure in Arabic literature after the Quran and the Pre-Islamic poetic canons. Although the maqamat did not originate with al-Hariri, he elevated the genre to an art form. Al-Hariri was born 446 AH (1054 AD) and died in his native city of Basra on 6 Rajab, AH 516 (10 September 1122 AD). Although his place of birth is uncertain, scholars suggest that he was probably born in Mashan near Basra, where his family had a palm tree plantation. and only resided...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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Frequently Asked Questions about Al-Hariri of Basra