and should anyone object, I would box his ears—though only … in the assembly of my lord, the judge al-Tanūkhī.

387 – al-Tabarkhazi, Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn al-ʿAbbās al-Khwārizmī *
The most celebrated poet of his day, the man of letters Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn al-ʿAbbās al-Khwārizmī. His mother was from Ṭabaristān and his father a native of Khwarizm; hence, as al-Samʿānī notes, his nisba combines the two names.

He was the sister’s son of Muḥammad ibn Jarīr. He settled in Syria, residing in Aleppo, and was a figure to whom people pointed in admiration during his lifetime.

It is related that he sought an audience with Ibn ʿAbbād. The latter said to his chamberlain, “If he has memorised twenty thousand verses, let him in.” The poet responded, “Do you mean from the poetry of men or of women?” When the chamberlain conveyed this reply, Ibn ʿAbbād remarked, “That must be Abū Bakr al-Khwārizmī,” and he welcomed him with honour and friendly conversation.

He left a Dīwān of verse, a Dīwān of correspondence, and collections of witticisms and rare anecdotes. He died in Nīshāpūr in Ramaḍān 383 AH—though some say 393 AH. The nisba “al-Tabarkhazi” is pronounced with an open khāʾ followed by a zāʾ.

388 – Ibn Abī Shuraiḥ ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Aḥmad al-Anṣārī **
The Imām, exemplar, and traditionist devoted to the Prophetic way; the leading transmitter and scholar of Herat, Abū Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyā ibn Makhlad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn