Abu Tammam

Abu Tammam Habib ibn Aws al-Ta'i (c. 188-231H / 804-845 CE) was one of the leading poets of the Abbasid era and a court poet for al-Mu'tasim. He is best remembered as the compiler of al-Hamasa (the anthology of valor poetry), one of the most important collections of early Arabic verse. As a poet himself, he was noted for elaborate metaphors (badi' style) and philosophical themes. He served as postmaster (sahib al-barid) in Mosul. The hadith about reciting poetry in the mosque — with his conversation with the caliph — is often cited to show that poetry was part of Islamic civilization.