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Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz

Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz (Arabic: عبد الله بن المعتز, romanizedʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Muʿtazz; 861 – 29 December 908) was the son of the caliph al-Mu'tazz and a political figure, but is better known as a leading Arabic poet and the author of the Kitab al-Badi, an early study of Arabic forms of poetry. This work is considered one of the earliest works in Arabic literary theory and literary criticism.[1]

Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz
عبد الله بن المعتز
Governor of Arminiyah
In office866 – 867
PredecessorAl-Abbas ibn al-Musta'in (863–865)
SuccessorAbu'l-Saj Devdad
Bornc. 861
Samarra, Abbasid Caliphate
Died29 December 908
Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate
Burial
Iraq
RelativesAl-Muntasir (uncle)
Al-Mutamid (uncle)
Al-Muwaffaq (uncle)
Al-Mu'tadid (cousin)
Names
Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mu'tazz ibn Jaʿfar al-Mutawakkil ibn Muhammad al-Mu'tasim ibn Harun al-Rashid
DynastyAbbasid
FatherAl-Mu'tazz
MotherFatimah bint al-Fath ibn Khaqan
ReligionSunni Islam
Occupation
  • Arabic poet
  • Author (the author of the Kitab al-Badi)
  • Politician

Persuaded to assume the role of caliph of the Abbasid dynasty following the premature death of al-Muktafi, he succeeded in ruling for a single day and a single night, before he was forced into hiding, found and then strangled in a palace intrigue that brought al-Muqtadir, then thirteen years old, to the throne.

Life edit

Born in Samarra as a prince of the imperial house and the great-great-grandson of Harun al-Rashid, Ibn al-Mu'tazz had a tragic childhood in the Byzantine intrigues of the Abbasid caliphate. His grandfather, the caliph al-Mutawakkil, was assassinated when Ibn al-Mu'tazz was only six weeks old. These events ushered in the nine-year Anarchy at Samarra. Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz's father, al-Mu'tazz 13th Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, came to power in 866, but in 869 was also murdered. The boy was spared the purge of the palace by fleeing to Mecca with his grandmother Qabiha.

Upon returning to Baghdad soon after, he distanced himself from politics and lived the hedonistic life of a young prince. It was during this time that he wrote his poetry, devoted to the pleasures with which he was so familiar.

After reigning from 5 April 902 to 13 August 908, the 17th Caliph, Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz's cousin Al-Muktafi, died. Vizier al-Abbas ibn al-Hasan al-Jarjara'i wished to install Al-Muktafi's thirteen-year-old brother Al-Muqtadir on the throne, clearly intending to be the power behind the throne himself. Despite his reluctance, Ibn al-Mu'tazz was persuaded by the opposition to assume the caliphate instead, in the hope that he would put an end to the intrigues that had plagued the dynasty for decades. He was crowned on 17 December 908, but was overthrown the same day. He fled the palace in Baghdad and hid with a friend, but was found on 29 December and strangled.[2] Almost prophetically, he had once written as a poet:

A wonderful night, but so short
I brought it to life, then strangled it.

And another:

Accordingly, Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz was succeeded by the young Al-Muqtadir, who is accounted the 18th Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Works edit

Al-Mu'tazz's Kitab al-Badi, composed in 888 when he was 27, laid the groundwork for future studies of poetry by Arabic scholars.[3] Its title can be translated as 'the book of the new style', and 'takes its name from its polemical aim, namely to show that the style of the poets called "modern" (muḥdathūn), such as Bashshār b. Burd (d. 167 or 168/784-5), Muslim b. al-Walīd (d. 208/823), or Abū Nuwās (d. between 198/813 and 200/815), is not so very "new" and that none of its features was not anticipated in the Quran, the traditions of Muḥammad and his companions, and old poetry.'[4]

In the estimation of Charles Greville Tuety:

Ibn Al-Mu‘tazz is the spontaneous poet, akin in temper to Abu Nuwās. Free-ranging in his choice of subject, he is noted for newness of approach in handling his themes. What makes him essentially new, however, lies on another plane and is not immediately apparent: Carried along by his bold and sensuous imagery, we are satisfied that it is so, until, on pausing, we suddenly glimpse the perspective beyond.[5]

Editions edit

There are two main editions of Al-Mu‘tazz's dīwān: Muhammad Badī‘ Šarīf (ed.), Dīwān aš‘ār al-amīr Abī l-‘Abbās ‘Abdallāh b. Muḥammad al-Mu‘tazz, Dahā’ir al-‘Arab (Cairo: Dār al-Ma‘ārif, 1977-78) and Yūnus Ahmad as-Sāmarrā’ī (ed.), Ši‘r Ibn al-Mu‘tazz: Qism 1: ad-Dīwān'; Qism 2: ad-Dirāsa, two parts in four volumes (Baghdad: Wizārat al-I‘lām, al-Ǧumhūrīya al-‘Irāqīa [Iraqi Ministry of Information], 1978). Of the two, the latter is more reliable, but at times the former offers better readings.[6]

Another edition is ديوان ابن المعتز [Dīwān ibn al-Mu'tazz], ed. by عبد الله بن المعتز (دار صادر [Dar Sader] [n.d.]).

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ van Gelder, G. J. H. (1982), Beyond the Line: Classical Arabic Literary Critics on the Coherence and Unity of the Poem, Brill Publishers, p. 2, ISBN 90-04-06854-6
  2. ^ Charles Greville Tuety (trans.), Classical Arabic Poetry: 162 Poems from Imrulkais to Ma‘arri (London: KPI, 1985), p. 80.
  3. ^ F. Krenkow, 'Four Anthologies of Arabic Poetry', The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 2 (1936), 253-70, https://www.jstor.org/stable/25201286 (p. 254).
  4. ^ Pierre Lacher, 'Arabic Linguistic Tradition II: Pragmatics', in The Oxford Handbook of Arabic Linguistics, ed. by Jonathan Owens (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013), pp. 185-212 (p. 197).
  5. ^ Charles Greville Tuety (trans.), Classical Arabic Poetry: 162 Poems from Imrulkais to Ma‘arri (London: KPI, 1985), p. 79.
  6. ^ Nefeli Papoutsakis, 'Ibn al-Muʿtazz the Epigrammatist: Some Notes on Length and Genre of Ibn al-Muʿtazz's Short Poems', Oriens, 40 (2012), 97-132 (pp 100-104).

Further reading edit

  • 'Abd Allah ibn al-Mu'tazz, Kitāb al-Badī‘, ed. by Ignatius Kratchkovsky, Gibb Memorial New Series, 10 (London, 1935).
  • G.B.H. Wightman and A.Y. al-Udhari, Birds through a Ceiling of Alabaster: Three Abbasid Poets, Penguin Books, 1975 (ISBN 0-14-044305-3).
  • Charles Greville Tuety (trans.), Classical Arabic Poetry: 162 Poems from Imrulkais to Ma‘arri (London: KPI, 1985), pp. 247–63.

abdallah, tazz, arabic, عبد, الله, بن, المعتز, romanized, ʿabd, allāh, muʿtazz, december, caliph, tazz, political, figure, better, known, leading, arabic, poet, author, kitab, badi, early, study, arabic, forms, poetry, this, work, considered, earliest, works, . Abdallah ibn al Mu tazz Arabic عبد الله بن المعتز romanized ʿAbd Allah ibn al Muʿtazz 861 29 December 908 was the son of the caliph al Mu tazz and a political figure but is better known as a leading Arabic poet and the author of the Kitab al Badi an early study of Arabic forms of poetry This work is considered one of the earliest works in Arabic literary theory and literary criticism 1 Abdallah ibn al Mu tazz عبد الله بن المعتزGovernor of ArminiyahIn office866 867PredecessorAl Abbas ibn al Musta in 863 865 SuccessorAbu l Saj DevdadBornc 861Samarra Abbasid CaliphateDied29 December 908Baghdad Abbasid CaliphateBurialIraqRelativesAl Muntasir uncle Al Mutamid uncle Al Muwaffaq uncle Al Mu tadid cousin NamesAbdallah ibn Muhammad al Mu tazz ibn Jaʿfar al Mutawakkil ibn Muhammad al Mu tasim ibn Harun al RashidDynastyAbbasidFatherAl Mu tazzMotherFatimah bint al Fath ibn KhaqanReligionSunni IslamOccupationArabic poet Author the author of the Kitab al Badi PoliticianPersuaded to assume the role of caliph of the Abbasid dynasty following the premature death of al Muktafi he succeeded in ruling for a single day and a single night before he was forced into hiding found and then strangled in a palace intrigue that brought al Muqtadir then thirteen years old to the throne Contents 1 Life 2 Works 2 1 Editions 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingLife editBorn in Samarra as a prince of the imperial house and the great great grandson of Harun al Rashid Ibn al Mu tazz had a tragic childhood in the Byzantine intrigues of the Abbasid caliphate His grandfather the caliph al Mutawakkil was assassinated when Ibn al Mu tazz was only six weeks old These events ushered in the nine year Anarchy at Samarra Abdallah ibn al Mu tazz s father al Mu tazz 13th Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate came to power in 866 but in 869 was also murdered The boy was spared the purge of the palace by fleeing to Mecca with his grandmother Qabiha Upon returning to Baghdad soon after he distanced himself from politics and lived the hedonistic life of a young prince It was during this time that he wrote his poetry devoted to the pleasures with which he was so familiar After reigning from 5 April 902 to 13 August 908 the 17th Caliph Abdallah ibn al Mu tazz s cousin Al Muktafi died Vizier al Abbas ibn al Hasan al Jarjara i wished to install Al Muktafi s thirteen year old brother Al Muqtadir on the throne clearly intending to be the power behind the throne himself Despite his reluctance Ibn al Mu tazz was persuaded by the opposition to assume the caliphate instead in the hope that he would put an end to the intrigues that had plagued the dynasty for decades He was crowned on 17 December 908 but was overthrown the same day He fled the palace in Baghdad and hid with a friend but was found on 29 December and strangled 2 Almost prophetically he had once written as a poet A wonderful night but so short I brought it to life then strangled it And another خل الذنوب صغيرها وكبيرها ذاك التقى واصنع كماش فوق أرض الشوك يحذر ما يرى لا تحقرن صغيرة إن الجبال من الحصى Abandon sins big and small that is piety And be like the one who walks on a thorny path he is cautious of what he sees Do not belittle the small sins truly mountains are made of pebblesAccordingly Abdallah ibn al Mu tazz was succeeded by the young Al Muqtadir who is accounted the 18th Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate Works editAl Mu tazz s Kitab al Badi composed in 888 when he was 27 laid the groundwork for future studies of poetry by Arabic scholars 3 Its title can be translated as the book of the new style and takes its name from its polemical aim namely to show that the style of the poets called modern muḥdathun such as Bashshar b Burd d 167 or 168 784 5 Muslim b al Walid d 208 823 or Abu Nuwas d between 198 813 and 200 815 is not so very new and that none of its features was not anticipated in the Quran the traditions of Muḥammad and his companions and old poetry 4 In the estimation of Charles Greville Tuety Ibn Al Mu tazz is the spontaneous poet akin in temper to Abu Nuwas Free ranging in his choice of subject he is noted for newness of approach in handling his themes What makes him essentially new however lies on another plane and is not immediately apparent Carried along by his bold and sensuous imagery we are satisfied that it is so until on pausing we suddenly glimpse the perspective beyond 5 Editions edit There are two main editions of Al Mu tazz s diwan Muhammad Badi Sarif ed Diwan as ar al amir Abi l Abbas Abdallah b Muḥammad al Mu tazz Daha ir al Arab Cairo Dar al Ma arif 1977 78 and Yunus Ahmad as Samarra i ed Si r Ibn al Mu tazz Qism 1 ad Diwan Qism 2 ad Dirasa two parts in four volumes Baghdad Wizarat al I lam al Ǧumhuriya al Iraqia Iraqi Ministry of Information 1978 Of the two the latter is more reliable but at times the former offers better readings 6 Another edition is ديوان ابن المعتز Diwan ibn al Mu tazz ed by عبد الله بن المعتز دار صادر Dar Sader n d See also editAl MufawwidReferences edit van Gelder G J H 1982 Beyond the Line Classical Arabic Literary Critics on the Coherence and Unity of the Poem Brill Publishers p 2 ISBN 90 04 06854 6 Charles Greville Tuety trans Classical Arabic Poetry 162 Poems from Imrulkais to Ma arri London KPI 1985 p 80 F Krenkow Four Anthologies of Arabic Poetry The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2 1936 253 70 https www jstor org stable 25201286 p 254 Pierre Lacher Arabic Linguistic Tradition II Pragmatics in The Oxford Handbook of Arabic Linguistics ed by Jonathan Owens Oxford Oxford University Press 2013 pp 185 212 p 197 Charles Greville Tuety trans Classical Arabic Poetry 162 Poems from Imrulkais to Ma arri London KPI 1985 p 79 Nefeli Papoutsakis Ibn al Muʿtazz the Epigrammatist Some Notes on Length and Genre of Ibn al Muʿtazz s Short Poems Oriens 40 2012 97 132 pp 100 104 Further reading edit Abd Allah ibn al Mu tazz Kitab al Badi ed by Ignatius Kratchkovsky Gibb Memorial New Series 10 London 1935 G B H Wightman and A Y al Udhari Birds through a Ceiling of Alabaster Three Abbasid Poets Penguin Books 1975 ISBN 0 14 044305 3 Charles Greville Tuety trans Classical Arabic Poetry 162 Poems from Imrulkais to Ma arri London KPI 1985 pp 247 63 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abdallah ibn al Mu 27tazz amp oldid 1181892475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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