He died in Shaʿbān of this year. A cultured man of letters, gifted prose-stylist, and consummate poet, he left verses such as these:
O you whose outward form and inward grace are alike exquisite—
no gaze sets out but ends its journey upon you!
The rosy tint of my tears is stolen from your cheeks,
and the wasting of my body is filched from your eyelids.
No breath remains with which to plead my passion for you;
indeed, only one who still draws breath complains.
Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā: Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Jurjānī, one of the scholar-ascetics and worshippers, famous for his debates with Abū Bakr al-Rāzī. He taught in Qaṭīʿat al-Rabīʿ, suffered a stroke at the end of his life, and when he died he was buried beside Abū Ḥanīfah—may Allah Most High have mercy on him.
[Badīʿ al-Zamān]
(1) Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥusayn ibn Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd, Abū al-Faḍl al-Hamadhānī, the memoriser renowned as Badīʿ al-Zamān, author of the polished Epistles and the unparalleled Maqāmāt. Al-Ḥarīrī followed his pattern, trod in his footsteps, and openly acknowledged his precedence and merit. Al-Hamadhānī had studied language under Ibn Fāris before excelling on his own and became one of the foremost masters of eloquence. It is reported that he was poisoned and struck by apoplexy, so he was buried in haste; then he revived in his grave, and his screams were heard. When they opened the grave, they found him dead, clutching his beard in terror. That occurred on Friday, the eleventh of Jumādā al-Ākhirah of this year. May Allah Most High show him mercy, pardon him, and forgive him and us by His grace.
[Then came the year 399 AH]
In that year Abū ʿAlī ibn Thimāl, the deputy of al-Raḥbah on behalf of the Fāṭimid ruler al-Ḥākim al-ʿUbaydī, was killed by ʿĪsā ibn Khalaṭ al-ʿUqaylī, who seized the fortress. ʿAbbās ibn Mirdās, lord of Aleppo, expelled him and took possession of it.
In the same year Abū ʿAmr (2) ibn ʿAbd al-Wāḥid was dismissed from the judgeship of Basra and Abū al-Ḥasan ibn Abī al-Shawārib was appointed in his stead. People went to congratulate the latter and condole with the former, and on the occasion al-ʿUṣfurī said:
I have a charming tale—
just the sort that is sung!