Abú Firás, arabský básník a rek X. století – Dvořák Rudolf (2024)

Abu Firás, full name Abu Firás al-Háris ben Abil 'Alá Sa'id ben Hamdán ben Hamdún al-Hamdání, was born in the year 320, according to others 321 H (932 or 933 AD). This work is a study of an interesting poet and jihadist (holy warrior), whom Arabic literary history counts among the most sensitive Arab poets. In his childhood, he lost his father, and the famous Aleppine artist Saifuddaula, a close relative of Abu Firás, took care of his fatherless family. In particular, Abu Firás himself found in him a supporter who became, as he explicitly admits, a complete substitute for his father. Under such powerful protection and in the spotlight of such favor, Abu Firás's individuality developed splendidly, and he grew into a man who excelled equally in both virtues, sword and pen, being educated in both, distinguished by courage and eloquence as well as skill in all knightly arts. At the height of his fame, Abu Firás did not concern himself much with his enemies and envious rivals; on the contrary, we learn from his diwan that he took pride in having risen above the heads of his opponents: "It belongs to my greatness," he explicitly states, "that people do not cease to slander me for what they envy me; people pursue me with envious looks, so much so that it seems to me that in the end, even the stars will..."