ibn Zayd al-Asadi al-Kumayt

Background

He was born in the reign of the first Omayyad caliph (now Kufa, Iraq). The date of his birth is circa 679.

Career

He was a schoolteacher at a local mosque until he was encouraged to write poetry instead. He was, however, a strong supporter of the house of Hashim and an enemy of the South Arabians. He was imprisoned by the caliph Hisham for his verse in praise of the Hashimites, but escaped by the help of his wife and was pardoned by the intercession of the caliph's son Maslama. Taking part in a rebellion, he was killed by the troops of Khalid ul-Qasri.

His poems, the Hashimiyydl, have been edited by J. Horovitz (Leiden, 1904). An account of him is contained in the Kitab ul-Aghani, xv. 113-130.

Achievements

• He used the language of the Bedouins to write poems in praise of the Umayyads, as well as 'Ali and his family. His most famous works - Mudhahhaba, his Malhama, and the Hashimayyat or Hashirrnyyst.

Connections

He was married.