Abu al-Mu'ayyad Balkhi

ابوالمؤید بلخی

913–971

Abu al-Mu'ayyad Balkhi was an Iranian poet and writer of the 4th century AH, active in Balkh during the Samanid era. His principal work is the great Shahnameh-ye Mo'ayyadi (in prose), also known as the Great Shahnameh, the Mo'ayyadi Shahnameh, and the Shahnameh of Bu al-Mu'ayyad. Almost all of his works have been lost, and little is known about his life. The Tarikh-e Sistan mentions a work by him called the Book of Garshasp (Garshaspnameh), which was probably part of his Shahnameh; the same is true of the Akhbar-e Nariman. He was the first to render the story of Joseph and Zuleikha in verse. Although nothing remains of the verses of this poem, its preface states: "Two poets have told this tale, well known and unconcealed in every place; one was Bu al-Mu'ayyad, who was from Balkh, who praised himself for his knowledge; he first wove words upon this subject, speaking as one who has comprehended." His Shahnameh is a book describing the history and stories of historical Iran (which extends far beyond the present-day borders of Iran) and includes many of the narratives and tales of the Iranians concerning heroes and kings, which were later recounted in other epic works, including the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi. The oldest book that mentions this work is the Tarikh of Bal'ami, which itself was written in 352 AH. The Aja'ib al-Buldan is another of his works, famous in the 4th and early 5th centuries, and it is mentioned several times in the Tarikh-e Sistan. His poems were made available on Ganjoor through the efforts of Mr. Majid Emamverdi, drawing on the book of scattered verses of Persian-language poets compiled by Gilbert Lazard, as well as the accounts and poems of poets without a divan in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th centuries AH, edited by Mahmoud Modabberi.