Description: (Author)
Al-Asmaʿi was a respected Arab philologist and key figure in the Basra school of Arabic grammar. He was highly esteemed at the Abbasid caliph Hārūn al-Rashīd's court for his expertise in philology, poetry, genealogy, and natural science. Regarded as a polymath and prolific writer, he made significant contributions to zoology, especially in animal-human anatomical science. Al-Asmaʿi authored important works like the Asma'iyyat poetry anthology and an epic on the life of Antarah ibn Shaddad. He was mentored by influential figures in the field and competed with other notable scholars from the Basran school.