Arab Poets of the Abbasid Era

Author: Yousef Atta Al-Tareefy

Poetry, like other arts, was influenced by the developments in the Abbasid era, which extended from 132 AH to 656 AH. Between these two dates, there were major and apparent events, conflicts, and contradictions, as well as changes in all political, cultural, and social aspects. Poets played a significant role in observing, recording, and transmitting these events, especially since they often accompanied caliphs and princes, or were companions, or traveled with armies, or perhaps even fought alongside leaders. The vastness of the Abbasid state had a great impact on the poets' travels and their observation of what was happening in the provinces that fell under the sovereignty of the Abbasid dynasty, which stretched far and wide. This led to major conflicts between the elements of this state and subsequent complexities resulting from contradictions among these elements.
Poets were affected by all these events, as a poet possesses sensitivity and is influenced. Thus, they rose to praise, mourn, flirt, or satirize, describing everything they heard and saw. Therefore, the author collected the material for this book and the poetry of these poets, which serves as a literary and historical record and a sensitive description of what transpired in the Abbasid era. The book's methodology is based on mentioning the poet's name, kunya (teknonym), laqab (honorific title), date of birth and death, and place of birth. It also focused on the poet's travels and the places they visited or worked in, the journeys they undertook, and the positions they held. Then, it detailed their connections with caliphs, princes, leaders, or other poets, before moving on to listing their written works. It is worth noting that many poets were also writers or orators, combining various literary arts and leaving behind a rich legacy of their works, which became foundational literary texts in subsequent eras. The book includes poets who lived during both the Umayyad and Abbasid states, as well as poets of the Abbasid state. For each poet of this era, the author selected poetic examples that illustrate the characteristics of the period in which the poet lived, and perhaps reflect their psychological, social, intellectual, and literary characteristics.