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Buhturi

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Al-Walīd ibn Ubaidillah Al-Buḥturī was a prominent Arab poet of the 9th century. He lived during the era of the Abbasid Caliphate. He belonged to the Tayy tribe. His work is a significant example of the classical style in Arabic poetry. This style follows specific traditions of rhythm and structure. Poets like Al-Buhturi used their skills to capture the beauty of language. His life and writings helped define a major period of Arabic literary history.

Al-Buhturi made his living through a professional role known as a panegyrist. A panegyrist is a poet who writes verses to praise a person or an event. He used this craft to gain fame and financial support. He wrote many verses for the caliph al-Mutawakkil. He also wrote for various members of the royal court. This work required great skill in using the classical Arabic style. By praising powerful leaders, he secured his place in society.

His early career was shaped by a famous mentor named Abū Tammām. Al-Buhturi visited Abū Tammām in the city of Homs while he was still young. This connection proved very helpful for his future. Based on Abū Tammām's recommendation, local authorities provided Al-Buhturi with a pension. The authorities in Ma'arrat an-Nu'man awarded him 4,000 dirhams every year. This steady income allowed him to focus on his poetic development. He eventually moved to the large city of Baghdād to continue his work.

Al-Buhturi's poetry covered a wide variety of subjects and emotions. Although he lived in Baghdād for a long time, he remained connected to his roots. He wrote many poems that praised the city of Aleppo. He also wrote love poetry dedicated to a girl named Aiwa. She was a resident of Aleppo. His work shows how a poet can express both public praise and private feelings. These different types of verses demonstrate the versatility of his talent.

His life began and ended in the district of Manbij. He was born there in the year 821. This area is located in Islamic Syria, between Aleppo and the Euphrates. Al-Buhturi lived through a transformative time in the Abbasid Caliphate. He eventually died in Manbij in the year 897. His lifespan spanned most of the 9th century. This long life allowed him to witness and record much of the culture of his time.

The poems of Al-Buhturi were preserved in collections called a dīwan. A dīwan is a collected volume of a poet's work. In the 10th century, two different editors worked to publish his poetry. The first editor was Abū Bakr al-Ṣūlī. He included Al-Buhturi in a book titled Kitāb Al-Awrāq. This book featured a group of fourteen poets. Al-Ṣūlī arranged their dīwans alphabetically. He used the final consonant of each line to organize them.

A second editor also published a version of Al-Buhturi's dīwan. This editor chose a different method for organizing the poems. Instead of using letters, this editor arranged the poems according to their subject. This allowed readers to find specific types of poetry more easily. Like his mentor Abū Tammām, Al-Buhturi also made a collection of early poems known as the Hamasah. These organized collections ensure that his classical style remains accessible to students of literature today.

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