علماء المعاني والبيانRhetoricians Prosodists Prose Writers and Literary Scholars

Scholars of Semantics and Eloquence

Yoosuf ibn Abee Bakr Muhammad ibn 'Alee Siraaj al-Deen Aboo Ya'qoob al-Sakkaakee. He was a brilliant authority in many sciences, especially semantics and eloquence. He wrote Miftaah al-'Uloom, which encompassed twelve of the Arabic sciences. Aboo Hayyaan quoted him in al-Irti shaaf in several places and said of him that al-Sakkaakee was from Khwaarazm. The shaykh Siraaj al-Deen al-Bulqeenee mentioned him, saying: “He was the Khwaarazmee, an imaam in grammar, morphology, semantics, eloquence, inference, prosody, and poetry, with a generous share of kalaam and the other sciences. Whoever saw his work knew the breadth of his learning, his excellence, and his nobility.” He died in Khwaarazm at the beginning of Rajab 626 AH. He was born in 555 AH.

Mahmood ibn Mas'ood ibn Muslih al-Faarisee, famous as Qutb al-Deen al-Sheeraazee, the Shaafi'ee scholar. He was born in Sheeraaz in 634 AH. His father was a physician, and he studied with him and with his uncle. He then traveled to Naseer al-Toosee, studied with him, and excelled. He entered Room, where its ruler honored him and appointed him judge of Sivas and Malatya. He came to Syria, then settled in Tabriz, where he taught the rational sciences. At the Jaami' al-Usool, he transmitted from al-Sadr al-Qoonawee, from Ya'qoob al-Hindubaanee, from the author.

He studied al-Baghawee's Sharh al-Sunna. He mixed with kings as a witty, playful man, carrying no money and not changing the woolen garment of the Sufis. He was a sea of knowledge and among the world's most intelligent men. He deferred to the jurists and was constant in congregational prayer. When he composed a book, he fasted and kept vigil; his draft would emerge already fair-copied. He then withdrew from the doors of princes and kings until he died.

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He wrote a commentary on Ibn Seenaa's Kulliyyaat of the Canon and a commentary on Hikmat al-Ishraaq. He composed Durrat al-Taaj in Persian, incorporating all the divisions of theoretical and practical philosophy. On astronomy he wrote al-Tuhfa and Nihaayat al-Idraak, among other works. His writings are numerous, all of the highest excellence and precision. He died—may God have mercy upon him—on 24 Ramadhaan 716 AH.

Mas'ood ibn the qaadhee Fakhr al-Deen 'Umar ibn Burhaan al-Deen, famous as Sa'd al-Deen al-Taftaazaanee. The learned imaam, knowledgeable in grammar, morphology, semantics, eloquence, the two principles, logic, and other sciences; a Shaafi'ee.

The hadeeth master Ibn Hajar said: “He was born in 712 AH. He studied with al-Qutb and al-'Adhud, advanced in the sciences, became renowned, and his fame flew abroad. People benefited from his works.”

He wrote a commentary on al-'Adhud, a long and another concise commentary on al-Talkhees, and a commentary on the third section of the Miftaah. He also wrote al-Talweeh, a commentary on al-Tawdheeh; a commentary on al-'Aqaa'id al-Nasafiyya; a commentary on al-Shamsiyya in logic; a commentary on al-Zanjaanee's Tasreef; al-Irshaad in grammar; Tahdheeb al-Mantiq wa-al-Kalaam; and marginalia on al-Kashshaaf, which he did not complete, among other works. His writings are numerous. He had a speech impediment, and knowledge of the sciences in the East came to rest with him. He died in Samarqand in 791 AH. Fath Allaah al-Sheerwaanee mentioned him at the beginning of his commentary on al-Irshaad and said: “I visited his sacred tomb in Sarakhs and found written on one side of its coffin, at the foot: 'He was born in Safar 722 AH, died in Samarqand in 791 AH, and was transferred to Sarakhs.'” End of quotation. He then mentioned the dates of composition of the rest of his works—may God Most High have mercy upon him.

'Alee ibn Muhammad ibn 'Alee al-Hanafee, al-Shareef al-Jurjaanee. al-'Aynee said in his history: “He was the scholar of the eastern lands, the outstanding authority of his age and the most discerning man of his time. Between him and Shaykh Sa'd al-Deen al-Taftaazaanee there were debates and exchanges in Teemoor Lank's assembly.” He had useful works.

Among them are his commentary on al-'Adhud's al-Mawaaqif and marginalia on al-Isfahaanee's commentary on al-Toosee's Tajreed. It is said that his works exceeded fifty books. He died in 814 AH. End of quotation.

Al-Suyootee said: “Among his works are a commentary on the third section of the Miftaah, marginalia on the long and concise commentaries, and incomplete marginalia on al-Kashshaaf. He also wrote an epistle on establishing the meanings of particles.” My master, the historian Shams al-Deen ibn 'Azm, informed me that al-Shareef al-Jurjaanee was born in Jurjaan, in the province of Astaraabaad, in 740 AH, and died in Sheeraaz on 6 Rabee' II 816 AH. I say: the duration of his life—may God have mercy upon him—was seventy-six years. al-Suyootee quoted his teacher Muhammad al-Kaafeejee as saying: “Al-Sayyid al-Shareef and Qutb al-Deen al-Raazee were not granted knowledge of Arabic; rather, they were philosophers.”

It is stated in Madeenat al-'Uloom: “I say: this statement departs from fairness. Their not being exclusively devoted to Arabic and their participation in the other sciences do not entail their ignorance of it. Examine their works fairly: they contain discussions related to Arabic before which the earlier masters of the Arabic sciences were helpless.”

The eye of hatred brings every fault to light ... The eye of love finds no faults

End of quotation.

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Burhaan al-Deen Haydar al-Sheeraazee, later al-Roomee. He was an authority in semantics, eloquence, and Arabic. He studied with al-Taftaazaanee and wrote an interwoven commentary on al-Qazweenee's Eedhaah. He went to Room, where he taught and issued legal opinions according to Aboo Haneefa's school. He died after 820 AH.

Al-Suyootee said: “Our teacher Muhyee al-Deen al-Kaafeejee—may God have mercy upon him—studied with him.”

'Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Ghaffaar, the qaadhee 'Adhud al-Deen al-Eejee, the famous Shaafi'ee scholar known as al-'Adhud.

It is stated in al-Durar al-Kaamina: “He was an imaam in the rational sciences, firmly grounded in the principles, semantics, and Arabic, participating in the sciences, noble in spirit, possessed of great wealth, and exceedingly generous to students.”

He was born after 700 AH and studied with the scholars of his age. He kept the company of Shaykh Zayn al-Deen, the student of al-Baydhaawee. He was appointed judge of the Mamluks. Among his students were Shaykh Shams al-Deen al-Kirmaanee, Sayf al-Deen al-Abharee, and al-Taftaazaanee. He suffered an ordeal with the ruler of Kirmaan, who imprisoned him in the citadel. He died in prison in 756 AH. Ibn al-Subkee included in the Shaafi'ee biographical classes what al-'Adhud al-Deen wrote, seeking the opinion of the scholars of his age concerning a passage in al-Kashshaaf on the Most High's saying: “Then bring a soora like it,” where he said: “Min mithlihi is attached to soora as its qualifier, meaning 'a soora that is like it'; the pronoun refers either to what We have sent down or to His servant. It may also be attached to 'then bring,' with the pronoun referring to the servant, since in the first reading he explicitly allowed the pronoun to refer to what We sent down, while in the second he implicitly forbade it. I wonder, then, what is the difference between 'bring a soora that is like it, so We sent it down' and 'bring from what We sent down a soora'?” Many eminent men wrote responses, especially Fakhr al-Deen al-Jaarbaroodee. Then Ibraaheem, al-Jaarbaroodee's son, responded to al-'Adhud al-Deen's answer, and they prolonged the discussion. We leave its mention aside [Edition footnote 1] because of its length and because it is not relevant to our purpose here. He had many works of great benefit, including al-Fawaa'id al-Ghiyaathiyya, an abridgment of the Miftaah.

Muhammad ibn Yoosuf ibn 'Alee ibn Sa'eed, Shams al-Deen al-Kirmaanee, later al-Baghdaadee, commentator on al-Bukhaaree. He was an outstanding imaam in hadeeth, exegesis, the two principles, jurisprudence, semantics, and Arabic. His son said in Dhayl al-Masaalik: “He was born on Thursday in 717 AH. He read with his father Bahaa' al-Deen, then moved to Kirmaan and studied with al-'Adhud and others. He astonished people, surpassed his peers, and excelled over most of the scholars of his time. He then entered Damascus and Egypt, where he read al-Bukhaaree with Naasir al-Deen al-Faariqee.”

He heard from a number of scholars, performed the pilgrimage, returned to Baghdad, and settled there. He was of perfect character, cheerful, and humble toward the poor and scholars, unconcerned with worldly people and inattentive to them. Sultans would come to his house and ask him for prayers and counsel.

His works include a four-volume commentary on al-Bukhaaree, a commentary on al-Mawaaqif, a commentary on al-Fawaa'id al-Ghiyaathiyya in semantics and eloquence, marginalia on al-Baydhaawee's exegesis, and an epistle on the question of kohl. He died on Thursday in 786 AH. He was carried to Baghdad and buried in a grave he had prepared for himself near Shaykh Aboo Ishaaq al-Sheeraazee.

Muhammad ibn 'Alee ibn al-Sayyid al-Shareef al-Jurjaanee, author of works.

[Edition footnote 1] That is, the responses.

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He studied with his father, excelled, completed his father's marginalia on al-Mutawassit, wrote al-Taftaazaanee's commentary on al-Irshaad in grammar, and a commentary on Hidaayat al-Hikma.

He also wrote a concise epistle on logic, in which he included what the books require. He composed it in the style of his father's epistle on logic, with valuable additions; but his father wrote his epistle in Persian. He also wrote an interwoven commentary on al-Fawaa'id al-Ghiyaathiyya—may God Most High have abundant mercy on both of them.

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Scholars of Prosody and Rhyme

Aboo al-Qaasim Hibat Allaah ibn al-Fadhl, known as Ibn al-Qattaan, the famous Baghdadi poet.

He heard hadeeth from a number of shaykhs.

People heard from him, and he was extreme in frivolity and debauchery, fond of joking, playful banter, and satire, with a passion for lampooning the pretentious. No one escaped him, neither the caliph nor anyone else. He and they had amusing anecdotes, incidents, and stories about this. He had a collection of poetry in which he mocked and defamed a number of eminent men. He had episodes with Hays Bays [Edition footnote 1] and a book on prosody, most of which is good.

He was born in 477 AH and died in Baghdad in 558 AH. He was buried in the cemetery of Ma'roof al-Karkhee on the day of the festival.

Ibn Khallikaan said: “Were it not for my preference for brevity, I would mention much of his life and his humorous sayings, for he was extraordinary in this field.”

Muhammad ibn 'Alee ibn 'Abd al-Rahmaan, Shaykh Ameen al-Deen al-Mahallee. al-Dhahabee said: “One of the imaams of grammar in Cairo. He devoted himself to teaching it, and people benefited from him. He had fine poetry and excellent works, including an urjooza on prosody and Shifaa' al-'Aleel fee 'Ilm al-Khaleel.” He died in 673 AH at the age of seventy-three.

Yahyaa ibn 'Alee ibn Muhammad, known as Ibn al-Khateeb al-Tabreezee.

Yaaqoot said: “He is sometimes called al-Khateeb, but this is an error. He was a master of prosody and one of the imaams of grammar, language, and literature, a reliable and authoritative proof. He emigrated to Aboo al-'Alaa' al-Ma'arree.”

He studied with him and with 'Ubayd Allaah al-Raqqee, Ibn al-Burhaan, 'Abd al-Qaahir al-Jurjaanee, and others.

He heard hadeeth and studied literature with many men, including the qaadhee Aboo al-Tayyib al-Tabaree, Aboo al-Qaasim al-Tanookhee, and al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee.

Al-Silafee transmitted from him, and many people were trained under him and became his students. al-Sam'aanee mentioned him in Kitaab al-Dhayl and recorded his virtues.

He wrote Tahdheeb Ghareeb al-Hadeeth, fine introductions to grammar, and a book on Qur'aanic parsing called al-Mulakhkhas.

Ibn Khallikaan said: “I saw it in four volumes. He entered Egypt in the prime of his youth, and Ibn Baabashaadh the grammarian read some language with him there. He then returned to Baghdad and settled there until his death. He was appointed to teach literature at the Nidhaamiyya and to oversee its library. Leadership in his field came to rest with him, his name spread throughout the lands, and people read his works with him.”

[Edition footnote 1] A poet's name.

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He composed a commentary on the Ten Odes, al-Kaafee on prosody and rhyme, three commentaries on al-Hamaasa, commentaries on the poetry of al-Mutanabbee and Aboo Tammaam, and other works. He was born in 441 AH and died suddenly in 502 AH.

'Alee ibn Ja'far ibn 'Alee al-Sa'dee, known as Ibn al-Qattaa' al-Siqillee by origin, Egyptian by residence and death. He was one of the imaams of literature, especially language, and author of the well-known book al-Shaafee fee 'Ilm al-Qawaafee.

Yaaqoot said: “He was the imaam of his age in Egypt in Arabic and the arts of literature. He studied with Aboo Bakr al-Siqillee and transmitted al-Sihaah of al-Jawharee from him. The Egyptian critics attributed laxity in transmission to him. He wrote al-Af'aal, in which he excelled completely; it is better than Ibn al-Qootiyya's al-Af'aal, although the latter preceded him. He also wrote Kitaab Abniyat al-Asmaa', in which he collected comprehensively, demonstrating the breadth of his reading.”

He had marginalia on al-Sihaah, al-Durra al-Khateera fee al-Mukhtaar min Shi'r Shu'araa' al-Jazeera, and Kitaab Lamh al-Milah, in which he collected works by a number of Andalusian poets, among others. He excelled greatly in grammar. He left Sicily when the Franks were on the point of conquering it and reached Egypt around 500 AH; the Egyptians honored him extravagantly. He had much poetry, a good portion of which Ibn Khallikaan mentioned in his history.

He was born in Sicily in 433 AH and died in 515 AH, or 514 AH. He was buried near the tomb of the eminent imaam Muhammad ibn Idrees al-Shaafi'ee—may God Most High have abundant mercy upon both of them.

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Scholars of Prose Composition and Literature

Aboo al-Fath Nasr Allaah ibn Abee al-Karam Muhammad ibn Muhammad, known as Ibn al-Atheer al-Jazaree and titled Dhiyaa' al-Deen.

He was born on the island of Ibn 'Umar, grew up there, and moved with his father to Mosul. There he studied and acquired the sciences, memorized the Noble Book of God, a large number of prophetic hadeeths, grammar, language, eloquence, and a great deal of poetry.

He wrote al-Mathal al-Saa'ir fee Adab al-Kaatib wa-al-Shaa'ir in two volumes. He was born in 558 AH and died in Baghdad in 632 AH. He had two brothers: one was Majd al-Deen Aboo al-Sa'aadaat al-Mubaarak, whose biography has appeared under language; the other was Aboo al-Hasan 'Alee, titled 'Izz al-Deen, who will be mentioned in the histories. All three brothers were excellent, intelligent men with accepted works. It is rare for brothers like these to occur. They are famous as the Ibn al-Atheers—may God Most High have mercy upon them.

Aboo al-Qaasim 'Alee ibn Muhammad al-Hareeree, author of the Maqaamaat. He was born around 446 AH and was the utmost in intelligence, perception, eloquence, and rhetorical skill. His works testify to his excellence; the Maqaamaat alone are sufficient proof, for through them he surpassed the earlier writers and defeated the later ones. He was born in a town near Basra called al-Mashshaan, and he was ugly and afflicted by plucked facial hair.

It is said that he wrote seven hundred copies of the Maqaamaat in his own hand and that they were read to him. He had a collection of poetry and died in Basra on 6 Rajab 515 AH.

Ibn al-Wardee mentioned a biographical notice and poems of his in his history, saying: “He was an imaam in grammar and language and had several works, including the Maqaamaat, whose fame covered the earth. Anooshirwaan ibn Khaalid ibn Muhammad, the vizier of Sultan Mahmood, ordered him to compose it. He was close to the vizier, came to Baghdad, and settled in al-Hareem.”

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Al-Hareeree was Basran by birth and upbringing, from the Persian Banoo Rabee'a. He was wealthy; it is said that he owned eighteen thousand date palms in al-Mashshaan of Basra, from which he originated. He left two sons: one, 'Abd Allaah, was a transmitter of the Maqaamaat, and the other was trained in jurisprudence. End of quotation. May God have mercy upon both of them.

Aboo Ishaaq Ibraaheem ibn Hilaal al-Saabi', author of the famous epistles and exquisite verse. He was the prose secretary in Baghdad for the caliph and for 'Izz al-Dawla ibn Booya al-Daylamee. He was appointed to the chancery and possessed every kind of excellence in verse and prose. He died in Baghdad in 384 AH at the age of seventy-one.

It is said that a friend entered upon him and found him deeply occupied with drafting, making fair copies, and revising. The friend asked what he was doing, and he replied: “Falsehoods I am embellishing, and lies.”

Aboo al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn al-Husayn, known as Badee' al-Hamadhaanee, author of the elegant epistles and outstanding Maqaamaat. al-Hareeree modeled his Maqaamaat on him, followed his example and footsteps, and acknowledged his excellence in the preface, saying that he had guided him to follow that method. He was one of the excellent and eloquent men and had graceful poetry.

He transmitted from Ahmad ibn Faaris, author of al-Mujmal on language, and lived in Herat in Khuraasaan. He possessed every fine and beautiful meaning in prose and verse.

Among his epistles is: “When water remains long, its foulness appears; when its surface is still, its stench stirs. So too with a guest: his meeting becomes tiresome when his stay is prolonged, and his shadow grows heavy when his time has come to an end. Peace.”

Another says: “His presence, which is the Ka'ba of the needy, not the Ka'ba of pilgrims; the sacred site of generosity, not the sacred site of the Sanctuary; the Minaa of the guest, not the Minaa of al-Khayf; and the qibla of the supplicants, not the qibla of prayer.” He died in 398 AH, poisoned in Herat.

It is related that he died of apoplexy and was hurriedly buried. He regained consciousness in his grave, and his voice was heard at night. They dug him up and found that he had clenched his beard, dying from the terror of the grave. God knows best.

Umayya ibn 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Abee al-Salt al-Andalusee al-Daanee. He was excellent in the literary sciences and composed a book called al-Hadeeqa in the style of al-Tha'aalibee's Yateemat al-Dahr.

He was knowledgeable in the art of philosophy and was called the learned man of letters. He lived in Alexandria. 'Imaad mentioned him in al-Khareeda, praised him, and cited some of his poetry. He died—may God have mercy upon him—in 529 AH.

Aboo Ahmad ibn 'Abd Allaah ibn Sa'eed al-'Askaree, one of the imaams of literature and memorization, a master of anecdotes and curiosities. His useful works include Kitaab al-Tasheef, in which he collected comprehensively, and Kitaab al-Hikam wa-al-Amthaal. He died in 382 AH. al-'Askaree is an attribution to several places, the most famous being 'Askar Mukram al-Baahilee, a city in the districts of al-Ahwaaz.

Aboo 'Alee al-Hasan ibn Rasheeq, known as al-Qayrawaanee, one of the excellent and eloquent men. He had fine works, including Kitaab al-Anmoodhaj, outstanding epistles, and good poetry. His father was a Byzantine slave, one of the clients of al-Azd. He died in 463 AH—may God Most High have mercy upon him. Among his poetry is:

O Lord, I have no strength to repel harm ... In You I sought help against the weak one who causes harm

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Why have you sent me a thousand mosquitoes ... And sent a single one to Nimrod?

He also said:

She asked: “What is this pallor and wasting?” ... I answered her in the words of a lovesick, captivated man:

Your love came to me as a guest whom I honor ... I fed it my flesh and gave it my blood to drink

Among his other works is Quraadhat al-Dhahab, a small book of great benefit, and Kitaab al-Shudhoodh fee al-Lugha, in which he mentions every word that occurs anomalously within its category.

The shaykh al-Majeed Aboo 'Alee al-Hasan ibn 'Abd al-Samad ibn al-Shihhaana al-'Asqalaanee, author of the famous sermons and embellished epistles. He was a knight of prose, with great mastery of it.

'Imaad mentioned him in al-Khareeda, saying: “Al-Majeed was truly excellent as his title describes him, capable of inventing and shaping speech. He had splendid sermons and artful witticisms.”

Ibn Bassaam mentioned him in al-Dhakheera and recited a number of his epistles. He was killed in the Khizaanat al-Bunood, a prison in Cairo, in 482 AH. Among his poetry is:

A veil, conceit, and excessive arrogance ... Stretching a hand toward high things with affectation

Had this arisen from competence ... We would have excused it, but it arises from incapacity

Aboo al-Yaman Zayd ibn al-Hasan ibn Zayd, titled Taaj al-Deen al-Baghdaadee. He was unparalleled in his age in the literary sciences and elevated listening. He would purchase al-khalee' and travel with it to the lands of Room, returning with it. He settled in Damascus, where people sought him and learned from him. He died—may God Most High have mercy upon him—in 613 AH.

Aboo Ghaalib 'Abd al-Hameed ibn Yahyaa ibn Sa'd, the famous secretary. He was proverbial for eloquence, so it was said: “Epistles began with 'Abd al-Hameed and ended with Ibn al-'Ameed.” He was an imaam in every science and literary art. He was from Syria; the epistolary writers learned from him, adhered to his method, and followed his works. He made the path of eloquence in correspondence easy. His collected epistles amount to approximately one thousand pages.

He was the first to make epistles lengthy and to use introductions in the sections of books. People adopted this practice after him. He was the secretary of Marwaan ibn al-Hakam al-Umawee, the last of the Umayyad kings, known as al-Ja'dee.

Among his sayings is: “The pen is a tree whose fruit is words; thought is a sea whose pearls are wisdom. The best speech is that whose wording is virile and whose meaning is virgin.” He was killed with Marwaan in 132 AH.

Al-Shareef al-Murtadhaa Aboo al-Qaasim 'Alee ibn al-Taahir. He was an imaam in kalaam, literature, and poetry, and the brother of al-Shareef al-Radhee.

He had works according to the Shee'ee doctrine, a work on the principles of religion, and a large collection of poetry.

People disagreed concerning the book Nahj al-Balaagha, compiled from the words of Imaam 'Alee ibn Abee Taalib: was it compiled by him or by his brother al-Radhee? It has also been said that it is not among 'Alee's words, but that the person who compiled it attributed it to him and fabricated it.

He wrote Ghurar al-Ghurar, gatherings that he dictated and that encompass the various branches of literary meaning. In it he discussed grammar, language, and other matters. It is an enjoyable book that demonstrates great excellence and broad learning.

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He was born in 355 AH and died in Baghdad in 436 AH. He was buried in his house that same evening.

Aboo Nasr al-Fath ibn 'Abd Allaah ibn Khaaqaan al-Qaysee al-Ishbeelee, author of Qalaa'id al-'Iqyaan. He had several works, including al-Qalaa'id, in which he collected a large group of poets from the Maghrib, giving each biography in the finest expression and most delicate allusion. His works demonstrate the abundance of his excellence and the breadth of his material.

He traveled frequently and moved swiftly from place to place. He died in Marrakesh in 525 AH.

Ibn Dihya said: “He was unrestrained in his worldly life, but his prose in his works was like lawful magic and pure, limpid water. He was slaughtered in his lodging at an inn in Marrakesh in 529 AH.” End of quotation.

Al-Saahib Aboo al-Qaasim Ismaa'eel ibn 'Abbaad al-Taalaqaanee. He was a rarity of the age and a marvel of his time in excellence, noble qualities, and generosity.

He learned literature from Ibn Faaris the linguist, Ibn al-'Ameed, and others.

Al-Tha'aalibee said in al-Yateema: “I cannot find an expression that satisfies me for conveying the loftiness of his rank in knowledge and literature.” End of quotation.

He grew up within the ministry, was raised in its lap, and matured in its nest. He was the vizier of Ibn Booya al-Daylamee. Poets gathered around him in numbers not seen around anyone else and praised him with outstanding panegyrics.

He wrote books on language called al-Muheet, in seven volumes, containing a substantial portion of the language. He had splendid epistles and good poetry, including:

A gazelle whose beauty is beyond my description ... I bent to kiss his hand, and said: Kiss my lips

And concerning wine's delicacy:

The glass grew delicate, and the wine grew delicate ... They resembled one another, and the matter became alike

As though there were wine but no cup ... As though there were a cup but no wine

He was born in 326 AH and died in al-Rayy in 385 AH, then was transferred to Isfahaan. al-Taalaqaan is the name of two cities, one in Khuraasaan and the other in the region of Qazveen; al-Saahib was from the latter.

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Scholars of Conversation

Mufadhdhal ibn Muhammad al-Isfahaanee Aboo al-Qaasim al-Raaghib. He lived at the beginning of the fifth century. He wrote al-Muhaadharaat, Afaaneen al-Balaagha, and other works. People think he was a Mu'tazilee, but al-Suyootee transmitted from Fakhr al-Deen al-Raazee that he was one of the imaams of the Sunnee community and placed him alongside al-Ghazzaalee. This is a fine point; no weight should be given to people's conjectures, for some conjecture is sin.

Aboo al-Ma'aalee Muhammad ibn Abee Sa'eed ibn al-Hasan ibn Hamdoon, the secretary titled Kaafee al-Kafaa'a Bahaa' al-Deen al-Baghdaadee, author of al-Tadhkira al-Hamdooniyya on the science of conversation. He was excellent, thoroughly knowledgeable in literature and writing, and came from a family famous for leadership. His Tadhkira is one of the finest compilations, encompassing history, literature, anecdotes, and poetry.

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No later author compiled anything like it. He was born in 495 AH and died in 562 AH; he died in prison.

Aboo 'Amr Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Abd Rabbihi, the client of Hishaam al-Qurtubee, author of al-'Iqd al-Fareed. He was one of the scholars who possessed vast memorized knowledge and broad familiarity with the reports of people. His 'Iqd is an enjoyable book containing something of everything; in our time it has been printed in Cairo, Egypt. He had a good collection of poetry, encompassing every fine meaning and eloquent expression.

He was born in 246 AH and died in 328 AH. He had suffered paralysis several years earlier. Cordoba, with the dhammah, is a large city in al-Andalus and the seat of its kingdom.

Aboo al-Faraj 'Alee ibn al-Husayn ibn Muhammad, the Umayyad secretary of Isfahaan, author of al-Aghaanee, recently printed in Egypt.

He was born in Isfahaan and grew up in Baghdad. He was one of its eminent men of letters and distinctive authors, knowledgeable in the histories of people, genealogies, and biographies.

He transmitted from so many scholars that listing them would be lengthy.

Al-Tanookhee said: “He was one of the partisans of 'Alee whom we saw. He memorized more of language, grammar, military campaigns, biographies, songs, fables, reports, traditions, isnaads, and genealogies than I have ever seen anyone memorize. He also memorized a lesser amount of other sciences and many of the tools of conviviality, such as veterinary medicine, the science of birds of prey, some medicine, astrology, beverages, and other matters. His poetry combines the precision of scholars with the grace of refined men.”

His delightful works include Kitaab al-Aghaanee on conversation, which everyone agrees has no equal in its field. It is said that he compiled it over fifty years and carried it to Sayf al-Dawla ibn Hamdaan, who gave him one thousand deenaars and apologized to him.

It is related that al-Saahib ibn 'Abbaad, during his travels and movements, would take with him a load of thirty camels carrying literary books to read. When al-Aghaanee reached him, he thereafter took no book other than it, finding it sufficient in place of all the others.

Other works include Kitaab al-Qiyaan, Kitaab al-Diyaaraat, and Kitaab Da'wat al-Atibbaa'.

Also among them are Kitaab Jumharat al-Nasab, Kitaab al-Ghilmaan al-Mughanneen, and Kitaab al-Imaa' al-Shaa'iraat. In al-Andalus he acquired books that he composed for the Umayyads, the kings of al-Andalus. He was attached to the vizier al-Muhallabee, for whom he had panegyrics, and his poetry was abundant and his virtues renowned.

He was born in 284 AH and died in Baghdad in 356 AH. He had become confused before his death. He was descended from Marwaan ibn al-Hakam al-Umawee, the last of the Umayyad caliphs; his origin was Isfahaanee, but his upbringing was Baghdadi.

Ahmad ibn Yahyaa ibn Abee Bakr al-Tilimsaanee, known as Ibn Abee Hajala, resident first in Damascus and then in Cairo.

He was born in 725 AH. He studied, then set out for the pilgrimage and did not return. He excelled in literature, composing books in verse and prose, and wrote excellent epistolary works. He composed Maqaamaat and other works. He followed the Hanafee school and held Hanbalee beliefs. He often attacked the doctrine of the unionists. He composed a book answering all the prophetic poems of Ibn al-Faaridh, criticizing him because he had not praised the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—and criticizing his sect, accusing him and anyone who held his doctrine of grave offenses. Because of this he was tried by Siraaj al-Hindee. He wrote poetry but did not master prosody. He compiled fine collections, including Deewaan al-Sabaaba, Mantiq al-Tayr, Sukardaan al-Sultaan on conversation and literature, al-Adab al-Ghadhdh, Atyab al-Teeb, al-Ni'ma al-Shaamila fee al-'Ishra al-Kaamila, and Qaseeraat al-Hijaal, among others. He died at the beginning of Dhoo al-Hijja in 776 AH, at the age of fifty-one.

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Kamaal al-Deen Muhammad ibn Moosaa al-Dameeree, the Shaafi'ee Egyptian, author of Hayaat al-Hayawaan on the science of conversation. He had useful works in many sciences. He was exceedingly devoted to worship and constant in fasting, without equal in his time. At first he earned his living by sewing, then abandoned it. He never accepted judicial office and never wore luxurious clothing.

He studied with al-Asnawee, al-'Iraaqee, and the eminent scholars. Whoever examines his Hayaat al-Hayawaan and the strange and useful material he deposited in it will recognize his excellence.

He was born in 743 AH and died in Cairo in 808 AH. al-Dameeree is pronounced with the daal and meem kasra; it is also said with the daal fatha and meem kasra. It is stated in Madeenat al-'Uloom: “Perhaps the latter is correct, for I found it vocalized thus in the hand of a trustworthy man.”

Aboo Mansoor 'Abd al-Malik ibn Muhammad ibn Ismaa'eel al-Tha'aalibee al-Neeshaapooree, author of Yateemat al-Dahr fee Mahaasin Ahl al-'Asr, his largest, finest, and most comprehensive book.

Al-Tha'aalibee is an attribution to sewing and working the hides of foxes.

He also wrote Fiqh al-Lugha, Sihr al-Balaagha, and Sirr al-Baraa'a.

Ibn Bassaam, author of al-Dhakheera, said of him: “In his time he was the shepherd of the peaks of knowledge, the collector of scattered prose and verse, the head of authors in his age, and the imaam of writers by the judgment of his peers. His renown traveled like a proverb; the sides of camels were beaten toward him. His works were the most famous destinations, the most dazzling rising places, and the most frequently transmitted; he gathered the rising stars of diwaans in the East and West.”

He was born in 350 AH and died in 429 AH. He wrote Moonis al-Waheed on conversation and a great deal in which he collected people's poetry, epistles, reports, and circumstances, demonstrating the breadth of his reading. He had much poetry, part of which Ibn Khallikaan mentioned in his history.

Muhyee al-Deen Muhammad ibn 'Alee ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn 'Abd Allaah al-Haatimee al-Taa'ee al-Andalusee, known as Ibn 'Arabee [Edition footnote 1], the support of those who have arrived and the foundation of travelers on the path. He was exalted in knowledge and practice and had abundant works and rich writings, including Muhaadharat al-Abraar wa-Musaamarat al-Akhyaar, among the books of conversation.

He was born in 560 AH.

Shaykh Sharaf al-Deen ibn al-Faaridh and Shaykh Sadr al-Deen al-Qoonawee studied with him.

He died in 638 AH and was buried in al-Saalihiyya at the foot of Mount Qaasiyoon, in the tomb of the Banoo al-Zakee. His grave is in Damascus and is visited. His father was a wine-seller there.

[Edition footnote 1] The expression Ibn 'Arabee is written without the definite article, according to the convention of the people of the East, to distinguish him from the qaadhee Aboo Bakr ibn al-'Arabee. In the Maghrib he was known as Ibn al-'Arabee, with the definite article. So it is stated in Nafh al-Teeb. Sayyid Noor al-Hasan Khaan, may his Lord preserve him.

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