Abu Nuwas

Abu Nuwas (750–810) was an early Arabic language poet of Persian birth. Due to the protection of powerful patrons, among whom the Barmaki family, enlightened advisors to caliph Harun al-Rashid, Abu Nuwas was able to celebrate wine and the love of youths in his divan, pleasures tolerated in Islamic society only when tasted quietly. This tolerance is often presented as an example of the tolerance of the Islamic religion, however he was also severely persecuted, had to go into exile for a period of time after the fall of the Barmakis, and died a violent death. His opus includes poems on the topic of hunting, the love of women, and panegyrics to his patrons. Abu Nuwas entered the folkloric tradition, and he appears in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights.