al-Kumayt ibn Zayd al-Asadi

Who is al-Kumayt ibn Zayd al-Asadi?

al-Kumayt ibn Zayd al-Asadi was an Arabian poet from Kufa that used the language of the Bedouins to write poems in praise of the Umayyads, as well as 'Ali and his family. He was a schoolteacher at a local mosque until he was encouraged to write poetry instead. He wrote several series of poems including: his Mudhahhaba, his Malhama, and, arguably his most famous series, the Hashimayyat or Hashirrnyyst. al-Kumayt was imprisoned by the caliph for his writings and escaped through the help of his wife. He later received a pardon from the caliph and was allowed to return to Kufa. While going to recite a poem, al-Kumayt was attacked by his Yemeni guards and killed. It is believed that the Hashimayyat and it’s supposedly pro-‘Alid poetry led to his assassination. While much of his poetry is controversial, it is generally not disputed that he wrote well of both the 'Alids and the Umayyads.

His poems, the Hashirrnyyst, have been edited by J. Horovitz. An account of him is contained in the Kitab ul-Aghani, xv.113-130.