Haydar al-Hilli

Haydar al-Hilli (1246–1304 AH / 1831–1886 CE) was an Iraqi poet and prose writer from al-Hilla, renowned as the poet of the Prophet's household (Ahl al-Bayt) in Iraq and best known for his diwan al-Durr al-Yatim ("The Solitary Pearl") Mujam al-Muallifin+1.

Lineage and Upbringing

He was Abu al-Husayn Haydar ibn Sulayman ibn Dawud ibn Haydar ibn Ahmad ibn Umar (or in some copies, Mahmud) al-Hilli al-Husayni, whose lineage traced back to al-Husayn ibn Ali Mujam al-Muallifin+1. He was born in mid-Sha'ban 1246 AH in the village of Birmanah in the district of al-Hilla Mujam al-Muallifin. His father died while he was still a child, and he was subsequently raised under the guardianship of his paternal uncle, Mahdi ibn Dawud al-Hilli al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Literary Standing and Character

Al-Hilli was widely celebrated in nineteenth-century Iraq for his grand poetic diction and vivid imagery Majallat al-Risala. He was particularly famed for his annual elegies (hawliyyat) commemorating the martyrdom of al-Husayn, being deeply moved by the tragedy of Karbala Majallat al-Risala+1. Despite living in modest circumstances, he held himself above sycophancy, mercenary panegyrics, and begging, devoting his verse instead to praise and lamentation of the Prophet ﷺ and his family, as well as scholars and notable figures al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. He was known for his personal generosity, as well as his steadfastness in religious devotions and litanies during both residency and travel al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. His broad literary and historical erudition was also reflected in his major two-volume prose and verse compilation, al-ʿAqd al-Mufassal fi Qabilat al-Majd al-Muʾaththal ("The Detailed Necklace on the Tribe of Ingrained Glory") al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Death

Al-Hilli died in al-Hilla in Rabiʿ al-Thani 1304 AH (1886 CE) Mujam al-Muallifin. His body was transported to al-Najaf, where he was buried Mujam al-Muallifin+1.