A literary history of Persia

1i2/6 THE GOLDEN AGE OF ISLAM(5) Ibn Isltdq (\ A.D. 767), the biographer of the Prophet, whosework (though possibly, as de Goeje thinks, still extant in its originalform in the Kyiiprulti Library at Constantinople) is known to us onlyin the recension of Ibn Hisham.(6) Abu Hanifa an-Nu'mdn (f A.D. 767), one of the four orthodox"Imams" of the Sunnis, the founder of the Hanafi school, ofPersian origin, and in strong sympathy with the descendants of 'Ali.(7)Hammdd b. Sdbur (Shdpur) ar-Rdwiya (\ A.D. 772-775), ofPersian (Daylamite) origin, the collector and editor of the sevenancient Arabic poems known as the Mu'allaqdt.(8) Jdbir b. Hayydn, the occultist (circ. A.D. 776 ;see p. 274 supra}.(9)Muhammad b. 'Abdu'lldh al-Azdi (circ. A.D. 777), who wrote ahistory of the Conquest of Syria.(10) Abu Duldma (f A.D, 777), a negro, "more jester and Courtfoolthan poet," who enjoyed the favour of the Caliphs al-Mansiirand al-Mahdi.(n) Bashshdr b. Burd (f A.D. 783), the blind Persian sceptic andpoet, to whom reference has already been made.(12) Al-Mufaddal ad-Dabbi (f A.D. 786), tutor to the Caliph al-Mahdi during his youth, who made a collection of old Arabicpoems not less important, though less celebrated, than theMu'allaqdt.(13) As-Sayyidu'l-Himyari ("the Himyarite Sayyid," f A.D. 789), azealous " Shi'ite, whose poems " (mostly in praise of the Prophetand his family) "are distinguished," says Brockelmann (p. 83), "likethose of Abu'l-' Atahiya and Bashshar, by simplicity of language."(14) Khalil b. Ahmad (\ A.D. 791), the grammarian and prosodistmentioned under (4) supra.(15) Sibaivayhi (f A.D. 793), the Persian grammarian, also mentionedunder (4) supra.(16) Abu Yusuf Ya'qi'ib al-Ansdri (\ A.D. 795.^ jurisconsult andpupil of Abu Hanifa.(17) Malik b. Anas (\ A.D. 795), the second of the four orthodox" Imams," the Founder of the Malikite school.(18) Marwdn b, Abi Hafsa (f A.D. 797), poet, a Jew of Khurasan.(19) Muslim b. al-Walid (f A.D. 803), court-poet of Harunu'r-Rashidand protege of the Barmecides and Fadl b. Sahl.(20) Muhammad b. al-Hasan ash-Shaybdni (\ A.D. 804), the Hanafijurisconsult, and for a while Qadi of Raqqa in the reign of Harunu'r-Rashid.(21) 'Alt Hamza b. al-Kisd'i (\ A.D. 805), the grammarian, a Persianby birth, entrusted by Harunu'r-Rashid with the education of histwo sons al-Amin and al-Ma'mun.