Introduction to the poet
Abi Mustahal Kumayt bin Zaid bin Khunais bin…bin Mudar bin Nazar.
Abu Faraj has mentioned regarding him:
He was a great poet and an expert of lexicology. He had command over the
history of Arabs. He was a sharp poet of Egypt and was prejudiced against
Qahtanis. He was well aware of the defects of poets and familiar with the ups and
down of poetry. He spent his life during the reign of Bani Umayyah and did not
witness the period of Bani Abbas. He passed away before Bani Abbas came to
power. The Hashimiyat of Kumayt was well known.
Maaz Hara was asked: “Who is the greatest poet?”
He asked in reply: “Poet of the Jahiliyya or Islamic period?”
He was asked to first mention a poet of the Jahiliyya period. Maaz said: “Imrul Qays, Zuhair, Ubaid Ibnul Abras.”
Then he was asked: “Who the greatest from the Islamic period?”
Maaz replied: “Farazdaq, Jarir, Akhtal, Raayi.”
He was asked: “Why didn’t you mention Kumayt?”
Maaz replied: “He was the greatest from the ancient as well as the later poets.”1
Also, Farazdaq said to him: “By God, you are the greatest from the past as well as the present poets.”
And some people have said:
Kumayt had ten such qualities, which no poet possessed: He was the orator
of Bani Asad, Shia jurisprudent, memorizer of Quran, a good calligrapher, expert
of genealogy, a good Shia debater,2 expert archer of Bani Asad, excelled by no
one else, expert horse rider and religious charity giver.3
Kumayt and his religious life
A researcher of biography clearly finds that this man from the field of
loyalty, in devotion to the family of Prophet was never greedy for material
wealth. Neither did he resort to flattery in order to seek rewards. He never took
the recompense of his poems in material riches. He did not try to seek posts or
ranks in exchange for his discourse. How it was possible? Because according to
Dibil:
“Their share of booty was distributed among other and they remained
deprived. Like them, their Shia were also boycotted, driven out of their homes.
As if they had committed some unforgivable crime.”
If any religious minded person was concerned about world or wealth, he
would have to present himself before the Umayyad regime, which had seized the
rule through unlawful manner. In that case, a loyal person like Kumayt can be
expected to come to the door of Bani Umayyah, who utilized fear to compel the
Shia to roam the deserts. That is why we see that his heart was only attached to
Aale Muhammad (a.s.) and absolutely unconcerned with others, because he
believed that Aale Muhammad (a.s.) are means of his salvation in the court of
Almighty Allah and loving them was the great recompense of prophethood.
Imams of religion and the senior members of Bani Hashim insisted on
Kumayt to accept their rewards and presents. In addition to the fact that they
regarded his rank from Mastership (Wilayat) to be great and had more attention
towards his respect and accorded exceeding honor to him. They also sought
excuse from him; like for example, Imam Sajjad (a.s.) said:
“We are helpless to recompense you for your verses of praise, but God is not
helpless.”
But he insisted in not accepting the gifts and instead asked for a used
garment, and through this act, expressed his sincere devotion to Aale Muhammad
(a.s.). He returned 400000 dirhams to Imam Sajjad (a.s.) and begged for a robe of the Imam, in order to seek auspiciousness from it.
He returned to Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) 100000 once and another time
50000 coins and asked for a used dress of the Imam. He also returned a thousand
dinars and a dress and instead asked him for a dress, which had been in contact
with his body