Kisai Marvazi

• Name — Kisāʾī Marvazī • Native Name — كسائی مروزی • Birth Name — Abu’l-Ḥasan Majd-al-Dīn ʿAli ibn Muhammad (or in some sources: Abu Isḥāq Majd-al-Dīn ʿAli ibn Muhammad) • Pen Name — Kisāʾī (also vocalized Kasāʾi) • Born — 6 March 953 CE • Birthplace — Merv (Khorasan) • Died — c. 1000-1001 CE • Occupation — Poet • Language — Persian • Period — 10th-11th century • Genre — Didactic poetry; moral-religious poetic themes; panegyrics • Subject — Religion, ethics, praise of rulers, reflection on age • Notable Works — Dīvān (collection of poems), poems on moral / religious themes • Years Active — Late 10th century

His full name was probably Abu’l-Hasan (or Abu Ishaq) Majd al-Din ʿAli ibn Muhammad Kisāʾi (or Kasāʾi) Marvazi, as mentioned by Ali al-Bakharzi in Dumyat al-Qasr. He was born on March 6, 953 CE, in Merv, a significant cultural and intellectual center of the Islamic world at the time. His birth date is explicitly mentioned in one of his poems: • "The year reached three hundred forty-one, On a Wednesday, three days before the end of Shawwal."* Initially, Kisa'i Marvazi composed poetry in praise of the Samanid rulers, particularly Nuh II ibn Mansur, and later shifted his allegiance to the Abbasids and Ghaznavids, notably Mahmud of Ghazni. His poetry reflects the changing political landscapes of his time, often blending religious themes with courtly praise.

Kisa'i Marvazi's poetry was well-regarded in his time, and his Diwan (poetic collection) was preserved at least until the 12th century. However, much of his work has been lost over time, with only fragments and individual poems surviving through later compilations by lexicographers and scholars. His poetry primarily focuses on: • Religious and ethical themes, making him one of the first Persian poets to introduce Islamic moral teachings into Persian literature. • Praise for rulers, particularly the Samanids and Ghaznavids. • Philosophical and mystical reflections on life, faith, and destiny.

Some sources suggest that Kisa'i Marvazi later converted to Shia Islam, though definitive historical evidence for this claim is scarce. His religious poetry, however, often reflects a deep engagement with Islamic beliefs and moral values.