Character guide

Abu al-ʻAlaʼ al-Maʻarri

major

Also known as Abu al-ʻAlaʼ, Abu al-ʻAla, Abu Muhammad Abdallah, Abu’l - Ala, Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn

The blind Syrian poet and philosopher, author of the Luzumiyat, whose skeptical and contemplative voice dominates the work.

Professor D. S. Margoliouth

supporting

Also known as Prof. Margoliouth, Professor Margoliouth, Margoliouth

A prominent scholar and translator who provides commentary and analysis on al-Maʻarri's life and works.

Omar Khayyam

supporting

Also known as Khayyam, Omar, Omar the Tentmaker

The Persian mathematician and poet, often compared to al-Maʻarri for their shared philosophical themes.

Professor Reynold A. Nicholson

minor

Also known as Professor Nicholson, Nicholson

A noted orientalist and translator whose works on Arabic poetry are referenced in the commentary.

Adh-Dhahabi

minor

A medieval historian and biographer cited for his accounts of al-Maʻarri's life.

Ahmad ibn Abdallah ibn Sulaiman ut-Tanukhi

minor

Also known as Ahmad

A contemporary and correspondent of al-Maʻarri, mentioned in biographical notes.

Von Kremer

minor

A 19th-century scholar whose studies on Arabic literature are referenced in the introduction.

Heron-Allen

minor

A translator and scholar of Persian poetry, cited in comparative discussions.

Edward Fitzgerald

minor

Also known as Fitzgerald

The English translator of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat, frequently compared to al-Maʻarri's work.

Allah

supporting

The Islamic conception of God, frequently addressed in al-Maʻarri's philosophical poems.

Fate

supporting

A personified force of destiny that al-Maʻarri often contemplates and challenges in his verses.

The Sultan

minor

A symbolic figure of worldly authority and power critiqued in the poems.

Rabbi

minor

A religious figure mentioned in al-Maʻarri's critiques of organized religion.

Jannat

minor

Also known as the Jannat

A poetic personification of paradise or a beautiful woman in al-Maʻarri's allegories.