We have mentioned their biographies in the unabridged version of this work.

We have mentioned their biographies in the unabridged version of this work. In the rank of people like Abu Nuwas there is a number of notable poets among the Shi’ah like Abu al–Shis, al–Husayn ibn al–Dahhak, al–Khali’ and Di’bil. And in the category of Habib and al–Buhturi we have Shi'ah poets such as Dik al–Jinn, who was named the poet of Syria. Di’bil al–Khuza'i went to see him but he concealed himself for fear of Di’bil’s severe criticism and obstinacy.

So, Di’bil said: “Why does he hide himself while he is the best poet of jinn and men? Is he not the one who said: Still not bored by her, raise the veil, And serve her wine from evening till daybreak. And with those large posteriors, commit such vice, The retribution of which alarms the guardian angels.” On hearing this, Dik al–Jinn appeared, apologized and attended to him.

These two poets were among the literary figures who did not seek through their poetry the approval of caliphs, princes or other personalities. This noble trait raised them above their peers. As regards post–classical authors, Ibn Rashiq reports: “According to the words of al–Hadhdhaq, Abu Tammam and Ibn al–Rumi are the most remarkable post–classical authors as far as invention and originality are concerned”.

Indeed Abu Tammam used to polish up meanings while Ibn al–Rumi employed new meanings that were unheard of before by digging deep in search of rare ones and bringing out other thematic imports beautifully. When he took up a theme he would never leave it without exhausting it. He was famous for the originality of his poetry. He was born in Baghdad in 221 A.H. and died in 283 A.H. Another poet of the same era is al–Kumayt ibn Zayd al–Mudari al–Asadi.

Ibn Ikrimah al–Dabiy says: “Had it not been for al–Kumayt’s poetry, neither the Arabic language nor rhetoric would have been intelligible” When Abu Muslim al–Harra was asked about al–Kumayt he answered: “That one is the best of the earlier and later poets”. In fact his Hashimiyyat which has been recently been printed in Egypt is clear proof of that. The pioneer in lengthy panegyrics is Kathir.

Ibn Rashiq informs us that Ibn Abi Ishaq, a well–known literary critic used to say: “The most accompolished poet of the pre–Islamic era is Mushriq and among the Muslims is Kathir. Ibn Rashiq considers this a too extreme view althought all scholars agree that he was the first person to compose lengthy panegyrics”. This proves that the Shi’ah took the lead in this type of poetry.