Al-Mutalammis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jarīr ibn ʻAbd al-Masīḥ | |
|---|---|
جرير بن عبد المسيح | |
| Died | c. 580 CE |
| Known for | Arabic poetry |
| Title | al-Mutalammis |
| Relatives | Tarafa (nephew) |
Al-Mutalammis (Arabic: المتلمس), real name Jarīr ibn ʻAbd al-Masīḥ, was a 6th-century Arab Christian poet. He was the maternal uncle of fellow poet Tarafa. Al-Mutalammis was from the Banu Bakr tribe.
His real name was Jarir ibn 'Abd al-Masih and he was from the tribe of Banu Bakr.[1] His patronymic Ibn 'Abd al-Masih implies that he was an Arab Christian and not a follower of pre-Islamic polytheism.[a] His nephew was the poet Tarafa.[1][2]
Ibn Sallam al-Jumahi places Al-Mutalammis in the seventh of the later classes of poets that lived before Islam.[3]
Conflict with the Lakhmids
Al-Mutalammis and his nephew Tarafa travelled to the city of Al-Hira around the 6th century, where they visited 'Amr ibn Hind, the Lakhmid ruler of the city.[1][4] The three men had generally good relations until Tarafa recited a poem which was insulting towards 'Amr ibn Hind.[1][4] After the two poets had left Al-Hira, 'Amr ibn Hind sent a message to both of them which ordered them to come forward to ancient Bahrain for their execution.[1][4] Tarafa, not wanting to break the royal seal, went ahead to Al-Hira for his execution, while Al-Mutalammis instead ignored the letter and threw it away, hence saving his life.[1][4] He escaped via camel to the Ghassanids.[5]