al-Kumayt ibn Zayd al-Asadi was an Arabian poet from Kufa that used the language of the Bedouins to write poems in praise of the Umayyads, as well as 'Ali and his family. He was a schoolteacher at a local mosque until he was encouraged to write poetry instead. He wrote several series of poems including: his Mudhahhaba, his Malhama, and, arguably his most famous series, the Hāshimīyyāt or Hashirrnyyst. al-Kumayt was imprisoned by the caliph for his writings and escaped through the help of his wife. He later received a pardon from the caliph and was allowed to return to Kufa. While going to recite a poem, al-Kumayt was attacked by his Yemeni guards and killed. It is believed that the Hāshimīyyāt and it’s supposedly pro-‘Alid poetry led to his assassination. While much of his poetry is controversial, it is generally not disputed that he wrote well of both the 'Alids and the Umayyads. His poems, the Hashirrnyyst, have been edited by J. Horovitz. An account of him is contained in the Kitab ul-Aghani, xv.113-130.
Criticism
al-Kumayt's poetry has been the subject of critical analysis by his contemporaries and modern scholars. Below are some of things that have been said of his poetry:
Abu ‘Ikrima has said: “But for the poetry of al-Kumayt Language would have no interpreter, nor Eloquence a tongue”.
Al-Farazdaq said: "Al-Kumayt was the poet of the first and the last”
An article by van Gelder suggests that al-Kumayt’s poetry lacks “concreteness” and “vivid description”.
al-Mufaddal, said: “Recite to me any of his motifs that you find extraordinary, and I shall give you the same from Arab poems!”.
al-Hari-ri said: “al- Kumayt was one of those who made artificial poetry and to whom it does not come naturally”.
Controversy
There is controversy surrounding al-Kumayt and if his sympathies lay with ‘Ali and his family or the Umayyads. An article by W. F. Madelung suggests that al-Kumayt was not praising the family of the Prophet specifically, but rather the Banu Hashim as a whole. He believes that al-Kumayt wanted the caliphate to be given to the Banu Hashim, but not necessarily the family of the Prophet. He says that, “The Hashimite imam for whose advent was praying need not be a descendant of ‘Ali”. On the other hand, Horovitz in the Encyclopedia of Islam suggests that al-Kumayt is clearly praising ‘Ali and his family. He says, “he came under the influence of the S̲h̲īʿi tendencies of his native town and these had a decisive effect on the direction that his career was to take, inspiring him with violently pro-ʿAlid opinions.” Later, Horovitz sums up his belief that al-Kumayt had conflicting poetry by saying, “ was capable of composing eulogies simultaneously to the 'Alids and the Umayyads.”
