Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Al-Mutanabbi

Role / Field:

Master poet of the Abbasid era, renowned for his wit and profound Arabic verse.

Born:

920

Died:

965-09-23

Century / Era:

920s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Abū al-Ṭayyib Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Mutanabbī al-Kindī (c. 915 – 965 AD), commonly known as al-Mutanabbi (Arabic: المتنبّي), was an Abbasid-era Arab poet at the court of the Hamdanid emir Sayf al-Dawla in Aleppo, for whom he composed 300 folios of poetry. His poetic style earned him great popularity in his time and many of his poems are not only still widely read in today's Arab world but are considered to be proverbial. He started writing poetry when he was nine years old.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He is well known for his sharp intelligence and wittiness. Among the topics he discussed were courage, the philosophy of life, and the description of battles. As one of the greatest, most prominent and influential poets in the Arabic language, much of his work has been translated into over 20 languages worldwide. His great talent brought him very close to many leaders of his time, whom he extolled in return for money and gifts. His political ambitions, however, ultimately soured his relations with his patrons and his egomania may have cost him his life when the subjects of some of his verse attacked him.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Al-Mutanabbi was born in the city of Kufa (Iraq) in 915. His father claimed descent from the...

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Frequently Asked Questions about Al-Mutanabbi