al-Jahiz

Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr al-Kinani al-Basri, known as al-Jahiz (c. 776-869 CE / 163-255H), was the greatest prose writer of classical Arabic literature and a towering polymath of the Abbasid era. Born of African origin in Basra, he was a Mu'tazili theologian but his wide-ranging curiosity led him to write on zoology (Kitab al-Hayawan), rhetoric (al-Bayan wa al-Tabyin), misers (Kitab al-Bukhala'), and dozens of other subjects with wit, observation, and extraordinary prose style. He reportedly died at nearly 100, crushed by his books. Islam.wiki note: his Mu'tazili theology is not endorsed; his literary and cultural works are historically significant.