Abu Ata Sindhi
Abu Ata Al-Sindi (Arabic)ابوعطاالسندي : was an eminent Arabic poet (early ninth century) in Bagdad. Abu Ata as- Sindi used to pronounce the Arabic word shaytan as saytan.
Life
Sindh which is the part of Pakistan once included within its boundaries the whole of western Pakistan and formed an integral part of Umayyid and the Abbasid Empires during the 8th, 9th and 10th centuries A.D. During this period the history of Sindh formed the most illuminating chapter of the general history of Islamic civilization. The enlightened Arab Governors of Sindh not only encouraged the exchange of trade and commerce but also the exchange of scientific and literary thought through a mutual exchange of scholars and poets. Among them May Be mentioned Abu al Dila, Abu al Asla, Abdullaha bin Mansur, Sawaid al Tamimi, Iyad al Sindhi, Haroon bin Musa and many others
The most important of them all being Abu'Ata al-Sindhi - widely known by his famous Kunyah or nom de plume, Abu'Ata - the original poet seems to have been Aflah and the name of his Sindhi father was Yasar. Abu'ata was born in Sindh and brought up at Al-kufah in Iraq, which was then one of the most famous center of learning. He became an important poet of Umayyids and completely associated himself with their cause despite the fact that he saw the fall of Ummayids and rise of Abbasids. His demise occurred during or after the reign of Caliph al-Mansur (754-775 A.D).
Contribution and work
According to the competent authorities he was the prolific poet of the highest excellence. His poetry was characterized by spontaneity, vigour and eloquence. The few verses that have been preserved, show his lyrical genius (wide rhyme), his emotional intensity, his deep social and psychological insight, his political bias, his poetical scruple, his subtle sense of wit, humour and satire and his native accent which furnish important clues for a philological study of the Sindhi language.
Serious students of worlds literature in the west may have been acquainted with Abu'ata's name through a four-volume English translation of Ibn Khallikan's biographical Dictionary by De Slane.
Sir Charles Lyall, however, acquainted the general reader with the free and moving sprit of Arabic poetry through his ingenious English translation of Arabic poetry , later reprinted in New York which illustrates the lyrical passion of the poet as much as the genius of the translator.
Thus sang Abu'ata al-sindhi:
"Of thee did I dream, while spears between us were quivering--
and sooth, of our blood full deep had drunken the tawny shafts!
I know not, by heaven I swear, and true is the work I say--this
pang, is it love-sickness, or wrought by a spell from thee.
If it be a spell, than grant me grace of my love-longing: if other
the sickness be, then none is the guilt of thine."
External References
Books
- Encyclopedia of Arabic literature, Volume 1 By Julie Scott Meisami, Paul Starkey
- Encyclopaedic survey of Islamic culture By Mohamed Taher
- The New Encyclopaedia of Islam
- Arab kingdom of Al-Mansurah in Sindh - Page 145
- Influence of Islam on Hindi literature - Page 8
- The Voice of Islam - Page 96
- History of India and Pakistan, Volume 2 - Page 34
{{·}} Abu Ata Sindhi{{·}}{{·}} Abu Mashar Sindhi{{·}}{{·}} Abu Raja Sindhi{{·}}{{·}}Mohammad Hayya Al-Sindhi{{·}}{{·}} Ubaidullah Sindhi{{·}}{{·}} Badee-ud-Deen Shah as-Sindhee{{·}}{{·}} Allama Makhdoom Muhammad Hashim Thattvi{{·}}{{·}} Maulana Taj Mohammad Amrothi{{·}}{{·}} Hafiz-ul-milan Hafiz Muhammad Siddique Of Bhar Chandi{{·}}{{·}} Mirza Kalich Baig{{·}}{{·}} Dr. Umar Bin Muhammad Daudpota{{·}}{{·}} Allama I. I. Kazi{{·}}{{·}} Maulana deen Muhammad Wafai{{·}}{{·}} Ghulam Mustafa Qasmi{{·}}{{·}} Moulana Jan Mohammad Abbasi
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