Diwan al-A'sha

Maymun ibn Qays ibn Jandal, from Bani Qays ibn Tha'laba Al-Wa'ili, Abu Baseer, known as A'sha Qais, and he is also called A'sha Bakr ibn Wa'il, and A'sha the Great. One of the first-class poets in the pre-Islamic era, and one of the authors of the Mu'allaqat. He frequently visited kings from the Arabs and Persians, and was a prolific poet, taking all possible approaches to his poetry. No one before him was a more prolific poet than him. He used to sing his poetry, so he was called (the cymbal of the Arabs). Al-Baghdadi said: He used to visit kings, especially the kings of Persia, and that is why Persian words are often used in his poetry. He lived a long life, and witnessed the advent of Islam but did not convert to it. He was given the nickname Al-A'sha due to his weak eyesight. He went blind in his old age. He was born and died in the village of (Manfuha) in Al-Yamamah, near the city of (Riyadh), where his house is located.