Hassan ibn Thabit

Hassan ibn Thabit al-Ansari (died approximately 54 AH / 674 CE) was the most celebrated poet of the Companions, known as the 'Poet of the Prophet' (sha'ir al-nabi). Born into the Khazraj tribe of Medina long before the advent of Islam, he had already established himself as a distinguished poet in pre-Islamic Arabia before the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came to Medina. Upon the Prophet's ﷺ arrival in Medina, Hassan embraced Islam and placed his poetic talent entirely in the service of the faith.

Hassan's primary role was to compose and recite poetry that defended the Prophet ﷺ and Islam against the satirical verses of the Quraysh and their allied poets. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged him in this, reportedly saying: 'O Hassan, reply on behalf of the Messenger of Allah; O Allah, support him with the Holy Spirit.' His poems celebrated the Prophet's ﷺ virtues, commemorated Muslim victories, mourned those who fell in battle, and countered the propaganda of Islam's enemies. He was given a pulpit in the mosque from which he would recite, and the Prophet ﷺ praised his compositions warmly.

Hassan lived to an advanced age, reportedly around 120 years — sixty years before Islam and sixty in Islam. After the Prophet's ﷺ death, he continued composing poetry, including deeply felt elegies for the Prophet ﷺ that remain among the most moving examples of early Islamic poetry. He witnessed the early caliphates and, despite advancing age and declining eyesight in his later years, remained an active figure in Medinan life. His collection of poetry (diwan) survives and is studied as both literary and historical testimony to the first generation of Islam. Ibn Ishaq and later biographers preserved much of his verse in the historical record. Hassan ibn Thabit is counted among the Sahabah of the highest rank, having served the Prophet ﷺ directly with the tools of his art.