Safi al-Din al-Hilli


Ṣafī al-Dīn al-Ḥilli, more fully known as Safi al-Din Abd al-Aziz ibn Saraya al-Hilli, al-Ṭāʾī al-Sinbisī, Abu ’l-Maḥāsin, was a 14th century Arab poet.

Life

Despite his being one of the most famous poets of his century, the historical record of Al-Hilli's life is often vague. Al-Hilli's birth is recorded as August 26 1278 in most sources, though one of his contemporaries gives his birth as October or November 1279. He was born in Hillah, modern-day Iraq, to a Shii family. Early in his life, one of his uncles was murdered, and Al-Hilli fought in a battle to avenge his death. He wrote a poem about his family's exploits in this battle, which won him some fame.
After he achieved his initial success as a poet, wars and disasters forced him to leave Iraq in 1302, leaving behind his wife and family. At this time, he became a court poet in Mardin, Turkey under the Artuqids. He made his living through commerce, and by writing eulogies of wealthy princes.
Al-Hilli died in 1338 or 1349.

Poetry

Al-Hilli, alongside Ibn Nubata, was one of the two most celebrated Arab poets of the 14th century. Al-Hilli's poetic style was innovative and experimental, integrating established poetic traditions with new vocabulary.
Al-Hilli is perhaps best remembered for the poetic lines which inspired the Pan-Arab colors: "White are our deeds, black are our battles, / Green are our tents, red are our swords." These lines are from Al-Hilli's fakhr poem written to celebrate his family's victories in the battle to avenge his uncle.
His major poetic works are a collection of eulogies titled Durar al-Nuhur and his Diwan. In his Diwan, he organizes his poems into twelve categories: 1. Boasting and bravery. 2. Eulogy, praise and thanksgiving. 3. Hunting poems and other description. 4. Friendship. 5. Elegy and condolence. 6. Ghazal and other erotic themes. 7. Wine and flower/nature poems. 8. Complaints and chiding. 9. Gifts, apologies and requests for leniency. 10. Riddles and complex ideas. 11. Adab, asceticism and other things. 12. Funny and satirical anecdotes.
In addition to writing poetry, he wrote several works of literary criticism on poetic forms.

External Links

at World Digital Library.