al-Jahiz

Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr ibn Mahbub al-Kinani al-Laythi, known as al-Jahiz, a man of letters and scholar from Basra. He was born around 150 AH (767 CE) and died in 255 AH (869 CE). ² Al-Mas'udi says that he died in Basra in Muharram 255 AH, though it is also said 256 AH. ³

Al-Mas'udi says that none of the transmitters is known to have had more books than he did, despite his Uthmani leanings. Among his books is "al-Bayan wa al-Tabyin", which is the most distinguished of them in his eyes: it combines prose and verse, selected poems and eloquent sermons. Others are "al-Hayawan" (Animals), "al-Tufayliyyin" and "al-Bukhala'" (The Misers). ³

He was the pupil and the client of Ibrahim ibn Sayyar al-Nazzam; he took from him and learned from him. When he feared that the reader would tire, he moved from seriousness to levity. ³

The data attribute to him the book Akhlaq al-Muluk. ⁴

Al-Mas'udi says that he wrote a book on the Imamate of the sons of al-Abbas, arguing for the doctrine of the Rawandiyya, and in it mentions the action of Abu Bakr at Fadak and his story with Fatima and her claim to her inheritance. Al-Mas'udi says that this was not his doctrine or his belief, and that he did it as a jest and to show his skill. He also wrote "al-Uthmaniyya". ⁵

Al-Mas'udi relates that he was mentioned to al-Mutawakkil for the instruction of one of his sons, and that when he saw him he disliked his appearance, and ordered him ten thousand dirhams and dismissed him. ⁶

His nephew Yamut ibn al-Mazra' relates the account of his illness: he would smear his right half with sandalwood and camphor because of its great heat, while he could feel nothing of the other half, which had gone numb and cold. ³

From his letter to Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik al-Zayyat there are phrases on the effect of morals on hearts, which Ibn al-Nadim gives. ⁷