IBN ZAYDUN HIS LIFE AND HIS SERVICES IN PROSE AND POETRY

ابن زيدون حياته وخدماته النثرية والشعرية

Abstract

Abu Alwalid Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Ahmad bin Ghalib bin Zaydun Al-Makhzumi known as Ibn Zaydun was a famous Arab poet of Cordoba and Seville. He was born in 1003 in Cordoba to an aristocratic Arab family of the tribe of Makhzum. He grew up during the decline of the Umayyad caliphate and got involved in the political life of his age. His romantic and literary life was dominated by his relations with the poet Wallada bint Al-Mustakfi, the daughter of the Umayyad caliph Muhammad bin Abdur Rahman known as Al-Mustakfi of Cordoba.He became the Governor in the time of Abi Al-Walid and was the Ambassador of the caliph. He wrote many poems in different topics, all are famous for its uniqueness and he also wrote many letters as “Hazaliya, Jiddiya” seeking mercy and forgiveness from the caliph. These letters have great value and place in Arabic literature.  In the last of his age he left Cordoba and went to Seville with Abbad 2nd of Seville and his son Al-Mutamid. He was able to return home for a period after the ruler of Seville conquered Cordoba. Much of his life was spent in exile and the themes of last youth and nostalgia for his city are present in many of his poems. He also composed some charming love songs dedicated to the Umayyad princess Wallada. He became famous as one of the best neoclassical poets in Al-Andalus and in his poetry the theme is almost always love. And his most famous poem is the Nuniyyah (poem with ending nun) of the 11th century. And he died in 1071 in Seville.