Diwan al-Khuraimi

Author's name: Shaker Al-Ashour

He is Ishaq bin Hassan bin Quhi, that is all that the sources have given us of his name. He is originally from Marwar Al-Shahjan, Sogdian, Jazari, of Turkish descent.
He was nicknamed Al-Khuraimi because of his connection to the Al-Khuraim Al-Na’im family in the Levant, and his constant companionship with them. His nickname was Abu Ya’qub.
It seems that difficult life circumstances led him to the Euphrates Island, the homeland of the Al-Khuraim family. He summarized these circumstances in a poem that read: “The profession of literature overtook me - and that was my first habit - in Sijistan.”
In the Euphrates region, he was in contact with Uthman and Amer (Abi Al-Haytham) Ibn Umara Ibn Khuraim, and after them with Khuraim Ibn Amer Ibn Umara. We notice from his poetry about them that his connection with them was close and had a great impact on his soul.
After the death of Khuraim ibn Amir, Al-Khuraimi headed to Baghdad during the days of Al-Rashid, and he contacted those who had a role at that time. Among those he contacted were Muhammad ibn Mansur ibn Ziyad and Abu Ali Al-Hasan ibn Al-Takhtakh, the scribe of Al-Fadl ibn Yahya Al-Barmaki.
In Baghdad, Al-Khuraimi witnessed the effects of the strife that broke out between Al-Amin and Al-Ma’mun, and the destruction and devastation that befell that city as a result of it. This ignited in his soul a fire of intense pain, which he embodied in his unique poem, the opening of which is Al-May.
They said: Time did not play with Baghdad, and its stumbling blocks befell it, and Al-Khuraimi became blind after he had grown old, and he died in the year 214.