al-Ahmar the grammarian

Al-Ahmar the grammarian, whom Harun al-Rashid sent to tutor his son Muhammad al-Amin. ²

Al-Rashid instructed him to teach the boy the Qur'an, make him know the traditions, have him memorise poetry, teach him the sunna, and show him the proper places of speech. He was to keep him from laughing except at the proper times. He was to have him honour the shaykhs of the Banu Hashim, and to make use of every hour for benefit, without being so harsh that it killed his mind. ²