Abu al-Atahiya facts for kids

Abū al-ʻAtāhiyya (Arabic: أبو العتاهية; 748–828) was a very important Arab poet. His full name was Abu Ishaq Isma'il ibn al-Qasim ibn Suwayd ibn Kaysan (أبو إسحاق إسماعيل إبن قاسم العنزي). He lived during the early Islamic era, known as the Abbasid period.

Abū al-ʻAtāhiyya was known for writing many poems about simple living and spiritual ideas. He was considered one of the top poets of his time, alongside Bashshār and Abū Nuwās, whom he also met. At one point, he even stopped writing poetry for a while because of his religious beliefs.

His Life Story

Abū al-ʻAtāhiyya was born around 748 in a place called Ayn al-Tamr. This was in the Iraqi desert, close to al-Anbar. His family were mawali, which means they were non-Arab people who became connected to an Arab tribe, in this case, the ʻAnaza tribe.

Early Years and Becoming a Poet

He spent his younger years in Kufa, where he worked selling pottery. While selling pottery, he saw a poetry competition. He decided to join in and started writing poems. He wrote poems praising the governor of Tabaristan, Emir Umar Ibn al-Alā.

As his fame grew, he moved to Baghdad. Baghdad was the main city and the center of the Abbasid court. He quickly became famous for his poems there. Many of his poems were about a woman named ‘Utbah, who was a companion of the Abbasid ruler, al-Mahdi. His feelings for her were not returned. Even Caliph al-Mahdi and later Caliph ar-Rashīd tried to help him, but it didn't work out.

Challenges and Later Life

At one point, he upset the caliph and was put in prison for a short time. Abū al-ʻAtāhiyya passed away in 828. This was during the rule of Caliph al-Ma'mūn. Records show that he died on the same day as two other famous people: the grammarian ‘Amr ibn Abī ‘Amr al-Shaybānī and the court musician Ibrāhīm al-Mawṣilī. His tomb was located by the Īsā canal, across from a bridge called Kantarat al-Zaiyātīn.

His Impact and Legacy

Abū al-ʻAtāhiyya's poetry was special because it was very natural. At that time, many poets copied the old style of desert poetry, even though it didn't fit city life. Abū al-ʻAtāhiyya was one of the first to stop using the old qasīda (a type of long poem). He was very good at writing and used many different rhythms.

A Philosophical Poet

He is also seen as one of the first Arab poets to write about deep, philosophical ideas. Much of his poetry looked at everyday life and moral lessons. Sometimes, his poems had a bit of a sad or pessimistic feel. Because of his unique ideas, some people thought his views were unusual or different from common beliefs.

Collections of His Work

Several people collected Abū al-ʻAtāhiyya’s poems. Ibn Abī Ṭāhir Ṭayfūr (who lived from 819/20 to 893/94) published a collection of his poetry. He was also included in an unfinished collection called “Traditions of the Poets” by Hārūn ibn ‘Alī al-Munajjim. This collection also featured other poets like Abū Nuwās and Bashshār. Another important person, the vizier Ibn ‘Ammār al-Thaqafī (who died in 931/319 AH), wrote a book called Traditions about Abū al-‘Atāhiyah.

His Family of Poets

Abū al-‘Atāhiyah's talent for poetry was passed down in his family. His children and grandchildren also became poets. Each of them wrote many poems.

• Muḥammad ibn Abī al-‘Atāhiyah, also known as Abū ‘Abd Allāh, was a quiet person nicknamed al-‘Atāhiyah (which means 'the Foolish One').
• ‘Abd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn Abī al-‘Atāhiyah.
• Abū Suwayd ‘Abd al-Qāwī ibn Muḥammad ibn Abī al-‘Atāhiyah.

Many stories are told about al-‘Atāhiyah. One famous story comes from the Abbasid court musician, Isḥāq al-Mawṣilī. He said that whenever he saw three specific men together, three others would also appear. For example, if al-Haytham ibn ‘Adī was there, Hishām al-Kalbī would be too. If ‘Allawīyah was present, Mukhāriq would show up. And if Abū al-‘Atāhiyah appeared, then Abū Nuwās would be right there with him.

See also

In Spanish: Abu-l-'Atahiya para niños