Critical Commentary on Abu Nuwas, the Iranian Poet

Throughout history appeared great men and women who strove to depict human suffering and expectations. As much as they resisted the worn out traditions of their society and rebelled against the oppressors, selfish opportunists attempted to put out the flame kindled by them and distort their image. One such example is Abu Nuwas, the great Iranian poet who lived in the Abassid era in the second century Hegira. His intelligence propelled him to present his avant-garde views in the form of wine poetry known as Khamriyyat because of which he was insulted and endured years of imprisonment. This article hopes to provide an inspective revision of his personal life and his scholarly literary character based on reliable historical references in order to unveil the shadows surrounding his life and to pave the way to a better understanding of his Khamriyyat, which is absolutely unique within the domain of Arabic Poetry.