A'sha Hamdan
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A'sha was born in Kufa.[1] He belonged to the South Arabian tribe of Hamdan. He began his career as a Muslim traditionist and qari (Quran reader) and was married to the sister of the prominent theologian Amir al-Sha'bi, who was married to A'sha's sister.[2] He later shifted to poetry, purportedly after dreaming of being in a room full of 'barley' (shi'r, which has the dual meaning of 'poetry'). He served in the military campaigns of the Kufans during the governorship of al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf (r. 694–714),[2] though evidently this was not always voluntary.[1] One such campaign in Makran took a heavy toll on his health.[2]
He campaigned under the Kufan commander Ibn al-Ash'ath in Daylam. According to one of his poems, he was taken captive there before gaining the love of a Daylamite woman who helped free him.[1][3] He became akin to the spokesman of Ibn al-Ash'ath during the mass Iraqi rebellion he led against al-Hajjaj and the Umayyads in general.[1] He was present at the Battle of Dayr al-Jamajim in 701 or 702 where Ibn al-Ash'ash was put to flight and al-A'sha captured by the Umayyad troops. He was brought before al-Hajjaj who condemned him for his critical verses against him and the Umayyads. His attempt to win al-Hajjaj's favor by reciting to him an ode of praise did not sway the governor, who had him executed.[2][1]
