Ibn Qutaybeh Dinawari
Abu Muhammad Abdullah Ibn Muslem Dinawari, one of the great Sunni scholars and historians (829 – 889). Although he was a celebrated scholar, there is not much information about his life. He was originally from Iran but may was born in Bghdad or Kufa – Iraq. He studied jurisprudence, Hadith, poetry, philosophy, history and Arabic literature in the presence of prominent masters in Basra and Kufa. At the age of 27, he was appointed as a judge in Baghdad. He also taught in syntax school in Baghdad. Ibn Qutaybeh was a judge in Dinawar – Iran, #### he lived 17 years in this city. He wrote most of his works in Dinawar and then returned to Baghdad. It is doubtful that he was Sunni, because he was interested in Imam Ali and his familly (peace be upon them). It seems he hid his real religion because of political situations. “Ibn Sekkit” (Shia scholar) was killed by the Abbasid caliph Mutawakkel.
His masters:
1- Abu Yaqub Rahwiyeh
2- De’bel Khozaei
3- Abu Saeid Ahmad Zarir
4- Abu Othman Hajez
5- Abu Qasem Sjestani
6- Ibrahim Ibn Yusuf
Some of the literary men and historians such as: Ahmad Ibn Marwan and Abul Qasem Ibrahim Sane’ were his students.
Works:
The some sixteen authentic works of Ibn Qutaybeh show the influence of a number of teachers in all fields of extant scholarship. He also borrowed from existing and remarkably faithful translations of the Torah and Gospel.
1- Adab al-Kateb “Literature of writer” (on philology and liguistics)
2- Ma’aref “worthy subjects to know” (on the Prophet and his companions, Omayyad and Abbasid caliphs, traditionists and other interesting subjects)
3- Meanings of poem
4- Oyun al-Akhbar (published in 4 volumes in Cairo)
5- Imamate and politics
6- Grace of Arabs and Iranians
7- Poetry and poets
8- Questions and answers, etc.
Sources :
Wafayat al-Ayan
Shia encyclopedia
Islamic encyclopedia