Prominent Writers of the Early Abbasid Era and Their Works
The early Abbasid era marked a golden age characterized by a remarkable revival in both natural and applied sciences, as well as philosophy. Writers and scholars delved deep into social and human sciences, broadly engaging with diverse cultures and drawing lessons from them without reservation. This flourishing of intellect reached its zenith during the reign of Caliph Al-Ma’mun, who favored rational thought, thereby brings together the Mu’tazilites and philosophers into the sphere of governance.
This period produced an elite group of writers and scholars who significantly contributed to the enhancement of Islamic civilization. Below, we will highlight some of the most notable writers from the early Abbasid period, spanning from 750 CE to 861 CE:
Abu Othman Amr ibn Bahr Al-Jahiz
Abu Othman Amr ibn Bahr Al-Jahiz was a prominent Arab writer and one of the greatest literary figures in the early Abbasid period. Born in Basra in 159 AH and passing away there in 255 AH, he was nicknamed “Al-Jahiz” due to his bulging eyes. He studied the Quran and linguistics under the guidance of local scholars, including Abu Ubaida, Al-Asma’i, and Ibrahim ibn Yasar. Due to financial constraints, he could not dedicate himself entirely to study early on and worked in the fish trade. Al-Jahiz was known for his voracious reading and a passion for knowledge and culture.
Al-Jahiz authored works in various fields, including theology, literature, politics, ethics, botany, zoology, and craftsmanship. His most notable work, “The Book of Misers,” humorously discusses miserliness and misers through real examples from Basra’s society, delivering a profound message advocating generosity and philanthropy while rejecting stinginess.
Additionally, he wrote “The Book of Eloquence and Clarity,” regarded as fundamental in rhetoric. In this work, he highlights eloquence and rhetoric in the Arabic language and explores different types of speeches, including those of distinguished Muslims, such as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab, among others.
Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi
Al-Khwarizmi was a mathematician, chemist, and astronomer, who is esteemed as the founder of algebra, a subject still taught in universities today. Born in Khwarizm in the Khorasan region in 781 CE, he moved with his family to Baghdad, where Caliph Al-Ma’mun appointed him to oversee the House of Wisdom. His major works spanned from 813 CE to 833 CE, and he died in Baghdad in 845 CE.
Among his significant contributions is “The Book of Algebra and Balancing,” which serves as the primary reference in mathematics and forms the foundation for modern geometry and programming. He also authored “The Image of the Earth,” in which he corrected Ptolemy’s erroneous views and contributed to creating a map of the world for Caliph Al-Ma’mun. His astronomical works include “Tables of Stars and Their Movements” and the “Zij al-Sind,” along with various treatises on the astrolabe’s construction and usage.
Abu Abdullah Malik ibn Anas
Abu Abdullah Malik ibn Anas Al-Himyari was a revered Islamic jurist and hadith scholar, recognized as the second of the four major Imams in Sunni Islam. He was born in Medina around 711 CE in the late Umayyad era and passed away in Medina in the early Abbasid era, around 795 CE. He founded the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence, well-regarded for his extensive knowledge and remarkable memory for hadiths.
Two of his significant works are “Al-Muwatta” and “Al-Mudawwana al-Kubra,” which compile the legal rulings and issues brought before him. He also authored other important texts, including “The Epistle of Imam Malik ibn Anas on Traditions, Admonitions, and Ethics,” “The Refutation of the Qadariyya,” and works on the calculation of times and celestial bodies, among others.
Abu Al-Bashar Amr ibn Othman (Sibawayh)
Abu Al-Bashar Amr ibn Othman ibn Qanbar, known as Sibawayh, was a leading grammarian, hailed as the authority on Arabic grammar. He was born in the city of Bactria in Persia around 765 CE. In his childhood, he moved to Basra, where he immersed himself in the company of scholars and jurists despite his young age, studying under renowned figures such as Hamad ibn Salamah.
According to Al-Dhahabi in his work “Siyar A’lam al-Nubala,” Sibawayh’s death was not natural, and supporters of Al-Kisai conspired against him after a debate. He most likely passed away around 796 CE in Persia.
Sibawayh’s landmark work, “The Book of Sibawayh,” is credited with laying the foundations of Arabic syntax and phonetics. This substantial text covers a wide range of topics and detailed sections, providing linguistic rules supported by quotations from the Quran, poets of the era, and eloquent Arabic expressions.
Abu Al-Hasan Ali ibn Hamza Al-Kisai
Al-Kisai was a distinguished figure among the Kufans, recognized as one of the seven reciters and the founder of the Kufi school of language and grammar. Born in Kufa in 737 CE and a client of the Banu Asad tribe, he grew up in Kufa and traveled to the Hijaz and Najd to learn the language from the eloquent. He studied under Hamzah Al-Zayyat, and after his demise, the transmission of the reading of the Quran concluded with him. Al-Kisai died in the city of Rayy in Iran in 805 CE.
His numerous contributions encompass critical works, including “Meanings of the Quran,” “Connected and Disconnected Verses of the Quran,” a book on Quranic readings, “The Great Book of Anomalies,” “The Lesser Book of Anomalies,” a concise work on grammar, “The Book of Differences in Numbers,” and “Stories of the Prophets,” among others.