Abul-Atahiya: His Life and Poems

Abul-Atahiya was born and grown up in Kufa-Iraq, a city chosen as the central city by Shias and the Abbasid dynasty publicized their government there. He lived in a period which slander was common so he kept company with adulterous people and acted dishonorably. He started composing poetry and soon became famous. He praised rulers in his poetry and grasped their gifts. He was able to get such a stand that ordinary people knew him and rulers and seniors set him a high position. He became acquainted with Soda and composed poetry for her to sing them in funerals. After they did not get along well any more, he went to Baghdad and met Otba -- the slave girl of Mahdi -- and composed amatory poetry about her. He then turned to piety and later was imprisoned. He was accused of paganism because nothing was seen in his virtuous poetry than memory of death. However, he defended the accusation and found the right way based on Islamic teachings. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on some aspects of his life and poems.