Life of Al-Sanawbarī

Life of Al-Sanawbarī

• Al-Sanawbarī's full name is Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Ṣinawbarī.
• The nickname "al-Sanawbarī" came from his grandfather, who worked at the House of Wisdom during the reign of Caliph al-Ma'mūn.
• Al-Ma'mūn said to him "You are of the shape of a pine cone (Sanawbar)," indicating his sharp wit.
• Al-Sanawbarī was proud of this nickname.
• Al-Sanawbarī was from Antioch but grew up in Aleppo.
• He devoted time to studying in the libraries and mosques of Aleppo, learning the Quran, poetry, Arabic language, and some of the culture of his time.
• Al-Sanawbarī lived during the time of many princes who ruled Aleppo, including Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamdani.
• Sayf al-Dawla admired his poetry and knowledge and made him a trustee of his library.
• Al-Sanawbarī's time in Aleppo under Sayf al-Dawla did not last long as he died in 334 AH.
• Sayf al-Dawla ruled Aleppo in 333 AH.
• It appears he had a relationship with Sayf al-Dawla before he became the emir of Aleppo.
• Al-Sanawbarī's collection of works shows he would leave Aleppo, moving between other cities such as Raqqa, which was his second home, especially during times of leisure and youth, and al-Ruha.
• Al-Sanawbarī met with many writers from Iraq, the Levant, and Egypt at the place of a paper merchant named Saʿda.
• He would praise the emirs, nobles, judges and people of high positions in the lands he visited.
• Al-Sanawbarī mingled with the poets and writers of these countries.
• He was close friends with al-Mu'awwaj al-Ruqqi, a poet from Raqqa in the Levant.
• One important friendship was with Kushājim, a poet and writer from the chancery of Persian origin.
• Kushājim lived in Aleppo and praised the Hamdanids.
• Kushājim was younger and adopted al-Sanawbarī as a teacher of poetry.
• News stories have preserved poetic dialogues between them, filled with playful banter.
• Al-Sanawbarī also had the company and friendship of al-Akhfash al-Asghar, an expert in grammar from Baghdad.
• Al-Akhfash spent five years in Aleppo, holding a large circle in his mosque that young people attended seeking knowledge.
• Al-Sanawbarī used to say that Al-Akhfash completely possessed his mind.
• Al-Sanawbarī seemed well-off financially.
• He had an estate, orchard, and palace surrounded by trees and flowers in Aleppo, where he held banquets for his friends.
• He also indulged in a life of leisure, which is reflected in many of his poems.
• Al-Sanawbarī admits his love for wine in his poems but later said he quit.
• He specified at what age he abandoned amusement and play.
• He was 57 years old at the time.

Poetry of Al-Sanawbarī

• Al-Sanawbarī was meticulous in crafting his poetry.
• He tried to emulate Abu Tammam, al-Buhturi, Ibn al-Rumi, and Ibn al-Mu'tazz.
• When emulating Abu Tammam, he would often use puns and rhetorical devices.
• When emulating al-Buhturi, he uses less of those puns.
• He was inspired by Ibn al-Rumi in the aspects of description and imagery.
• He emulated Ibn al-Mu'tazz in the style of description and imagery.
• Al-Sanawbarī trained himself in composing poetry until he was satisfied with his work and declared his poetic talent.

Praise

• Al-Sanawbarī was occupied with the art of praise in his poetry.
• This type of poetry was a way for him to secure the money he needed.
• He would praise the governors, their deputies, and their sons and assistants in Aleppo.
• Al-Sanawbarī focused often on praising al-Abbas ibn Ahmad ibn Kayghalagh.
• He also wrote his best poems in praise of the Hashemites (Banu Hashim) from both the Abbasids and Talibis.
• Al-Sanawbarī's ode in praise of Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Hamza al-Hashimi describes the manifestations of wealth and luxury in his hospitality.
• Among the most famous people he praised were the governors, emirs, and commanders.
• Dhuka ibn Abd Allah al-A'war, governor of Aleppo, Banis al-Mu'nisi, Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamadani were frequent subjects.

Elegy

• The elegies in Al-Sanawbarī's poetry had many characteristics.
• They had mourning, eulogizing and lamenting.
• In condolences, he is seen consoling Jaafar ibn Taruf on the death of his brother.
• There were also elegies for his friend Abu Ishaq al-Salmani, who described learning with such words.
• Al-Sanawbarī in elegy for Ali ibn Abi Talib, and especially al-Hussein ibn Ali who was killed with his family in Karbala.
• One of his most moving elegies is the one expressed for the death of his daughter Layla.

Pride

• Al-Sanawbarī's poetry includes pride, especially in the tribes of Qays and the tribes of Mudhar, and in being affiliated with his tribe.
• He praises his tribe and the Prophet Muhammad and his family.
• He would list The Prophet, his family and the caliphs of Banu al-Abbas

Lampoon

• Al-Sanawbarī pokes fun in his satire and is sometimes amusing.
• One example is his satire of his daughter Layla's husband, whom he considered a bringer of bad luck

Reproach

• In Al-Sanawbarī's poetry there are rebukes and appeals that transpired between him and his friends.
• Possibly the nicest of these is the one that was between him and his friend kushajem,

Asceticism and Guidance

• Al-Sanawbarī wrote poetry in asceticism and did not stray in his subjects from what was common in his era in this art.
• He advised on living a life of virtue

Flirting

• Al-Sanawbarī has a lot of poetry in flirting that is not free of artificiality.
• He searches for beautiful images.
• He expresses trouble with love.

Description

• The main subject in Al-Sanawbarī poetry is Description and especially the description of nature

Position of Sanawbarī

• Many were impressed by Al-Sanawbarī's poetry in his time and in his life, and some began narrating his poems
• Some of the scholars of literature showed interest in his poetry, such as Abu Bakr Al-Suli, who collected it and arranged it.
• The collection of his writings entered Andalusia twenty years after Al-Sanawbarī's death
• His description of nature inspired all subsequent writers.