the jurist, Shafiʿi scholar, poet, and author of the celebrated Dīwān. He served as a judge and was highly commended, a man of many arts whose hand excelled in fine calligraphy. He came to Nishapur while still young, in 337 AH, where he studied hadith.
He revealed abundant learning in his book al-Wasāṭah bayna al-Mutanabbī wa-Khuṣūmih (1), and for a time he also held the judgeship of Rayy.
al-Thaʿālibī (2) said: “He is the unique figure of the age, the marvel of the firmament, the very pupil of the eye of knowledge, the dome (3) crowning the diadem of literature, and the champion of the army of poetry—uniting the calligraphy of Ibn Muqlah with the prose of al-Jāḥiẓ and the verse of al-Buḥturī.”
I add: he is the author of those exquisite verses:
They say to me, “You are reserved,” but all they saw
was a man who would not stand in the place of humiliation. (4)
al-Shirazi, fol. 35; al-Muntazam, 7/221–222; Muʿjam al-Udabaʾ, 14/14; Wafayat al-Aʿyan, 3/278-281; Tarikh al-Islam, 4/89/2, 90/1; Mirat al-Jinan, 2/386; Tabaqat al-Subki, 3/459; Tabaqat al-Isnawi, 1/348-351; al-Bidaya wa-n-Nihaya, 11/331-332; al-Nujum al-Zahira, 4/205; Shadharāt al-Dhahab, 3/56-57.
(1) This book was printed in Sidon in 1331 AH/1913 in 416 pages, edited and annotated by the editor of the journal al-Irfan; another edition appeared in Cairo at the ʿIsa al-Babi al-Halabi Press.
(2) Yatimat al-Dahr, 4/3.
(3) The same source also gives the reading: “wa-Durrat.”
(4) The poet continues—these lines are counted among his noblest verse:
“I see that whoever flatters them is held cheap by them,
Whereas he whom self-respect ennobles is honored the more.
I have ever kept my honor apart from blame,
Counting self-protection the richest gain.
When I am told, ‘Here is drink,’ I answer, ‘I can see it,
Yet the free man’s soul can endure thirst.’
Not every lightning-flash that gleams can stir me,
Nor do I accept every dweller on earth as a benefactor.
Nor have I fulfilled the right of knowledge if, whenever
A hope appeared, I turned it into a ladder for myself.”