Al-Farazdaq

Who was Al-Farazdaq?

Hammam ibn Ghalib Abu Firas, commonly known as al-Farazdaq was an Arab poet.

He was born in Kazma and lived at Basra. He was a member of Darim, one of the most respected divisions of the Bani Tamim, and his mother was of the tribe of Dabba. His grandfather Sa'sa' was a Bedouin of great repute, his father Ghalib followed the same manner of life until Basra was founded, and was famous for his generosity and hospitality.

At the age of 15, Farazdaq was known as a poet, and though checked for a short time by the advice of the caliph Ali to devote his attention to the study of the Qur'an, he soon returned to making verse. In the true Bedouin spirit he devoted his talent largely to satire and attacked the Bani Nahshal and the Bani Fuqaim. When Ziyad, a member of the latter tribe, became governor of Basra in 669, the poet was compelled to flee, first to Kufa, and then, as he was still too near Ziyad, to Medina, where he was well received by the city's emir, Said ibn al-As. Here he remained about ten years, writing satires on Bedouin tribes, but avoiding city politics.

Famous Quotes:

• هَذا الّذي تَعرِفُ البَطْحاءُ وَطْأتَهُ وَالبَيْتُ يعْرِفُهُ وَالحِلُّ وَالحَرَمُ
• وأطلس عسال وما كان صاحبا دعوت بناري موهنا فأتناي
• إنّ الذي سَمَكَ السّماءَ بَنى لَنَا بَيْتاً، دَعَائِمُهُ أعَزُّ وَأطْوَلُ