Abul Atahiya

Abul Atahiya Poems

Abul Atahiya Biography

Abū l-ʻAtāhiyya (أبو العتاهية, full name Abu Isħaq Ismā'īl ibn Qāsim al-ʻAnazī إسماعيل بن القاسم (العنزي، بن سويد العيني)[1] Abu l-'Atahiyya (748-828) was an Arab poet born at 'Aynu t-Tamar in the Iraqi desert, near al-Anbar. His ancestors were of the tribe of ʻAnaza. His youth was spent in Kufa, where he was engaged for some time in selling pottery. Moving to Baghdad, he continued his business there, but became famous for his verses, especially for those addressed to ʻUtba, a concubine of the Abbasid Caliph al-Mahdi. His love was unrequited, although al-Mahdi, and after him Caliph ar-Rashīd, interceded for him. Having offended the caliph, he was imprisoned for a short time. He died in 828 in the reign of Caliph al-Ma'mūn. The poetry of Abū l-ʻAtāhiyya is notable for its avoidance of the artificiality almost universal in his days. The older poetry of the desert had been constantly imitated up to this time, although it was not natural to town life. Abū l-ʻAtāhiyya was one of the first to drop the old qasīda (elegy) form. He was very fluent and used many metres. He is also regarded as one of the earliest philosophical poets of the Arabs. Much of his poetry is concerned with the observation of common life and morality, and at times is pessimistic. Thus he was strongly suspected of heresy.)

The Best Poem Of Abul Atahiya

The Relief Poem

O Who sees what is in consciences and listens
You are Who I prepare for everything that can be expected
O Who is hoped for all hardships and calamities
O Who is there to complain to, and flee towards during panic
O Whose coffers of sustenance are in His saying: 'be'
please bestow, for Your goodness is more comprehensive
The only means I have is my poverty and need for You
and by my destitution for Your I try to evade my poverty
The only scheme for me is my knocking at Your door
but if I am turned back, then which door would I knock?
And whom will I call and whose name will I cry out
if a [faqir] (as me) would have been denied Your graces
Your generosity and munificence are venerated beyond that You despair a sinner
for Your graces are more generous and liberal, and Your gifts are vast
With humility I have come to Your door, knowing
that submissiveness at your door is useful and brings benefit
and I made my dependence on You turn into entrusting You
and I spread my palms begging in prayer and supplication
By the sake of the one You loved and sent as Prophet
and answered the prayer of whoever uses him as intercessor
Please grant us an exit from every narrowness (trouble)
and have mercy on us, O Who is our retreat
And then please send prayers upon the prophet and his family
the best of creation, and intercessor and permitted intercession

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