The Life and Work of Al-Jahiz

Ayesha Yumna

Name:
Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr al-Kinani al-Basri, commonly known as al-Jaahiz (due to his
eye deformity).

Introduction:
Al-Jahiz is considered the first Muslim prose writer who developed a great interest in
Islamic thought. He is one of the finest and most famous writers in the history of Arabic
prose writing. In addition, he was also a Muatazilite and founder of a school of kalam
(theology), known as al-Jahiziyyah, which has not survived.1

His life:
Al-Jahiz was born around 776 CE in Basra, Iraq, during the Abbasid Caliphate. Basra
was a vibrant intellectual centre, which likely influenced his upbringing and education.
Not much is known about his early life, including his family background or educational
pursuits.

During his youth, Al-Jahiz travelled to Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate,
where he began his career as a writer and scholar. He quickly gained recognition for his
intellect and literary talent, which helped him secure patronage and support from
influential figures in the Abbasid court.2

1
Al-Jahiz’s Method of Writing: An Analysis of Risalah fi al-Sharib wa al-Mashrub
2
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Al-Jāḥiẓ,” Encyclopedia Britannica, July 20, 1998,
https://www.britannica.com/biography/al-Jahiz.
 Throughout his early career, Al-Jahiz wrote extensively on a wide range of topics,
including literature, theology, philosophy, and natural history. His works gained him fame
and prestige, and he became known as one of the leading intellectuals of his time. One
remarkable aspect of his work, in addition to his well-known prose style, was his ability
to make his writing accessible to the general public. He achieved this by including
anecdotes, humor, and witty remarks throughout his writings. This approach made
complex ideas easier to grasp and more enjoyable to read for a wide audience.3

Al-Jahiz expanded his knowledge by travelling to cities like Damascus, Beirut, Samarra,
and Baghdad, where he stayed for a long time. He studied Greek literature, particularly
Aristotle, and also picked up Farsi. He was known for his rational and logical thinking,
which led him to be independent throughout his life.4

Starting as a young fish-seller in Basra, al-Jahiz grew to become a significant figure in

the literature and scientific progress of Muslim civilization. Towards the end of his life,
he suffered from hemiplegia, he retired to his hometown. He passed away in 8685,
leaving behind a legacy of intellectual curiosity and achievement.

His work:
He has written many books, however, only around forty of his books survive to the
present. These works are of varying length. His work highlights many aspects of the daily
life of society. Some of his influential works are:
● Kitāb al-Hayawān (The Book of Animals)6
This is the most famous book written by Al-Jahiz. This multi-volume book
not only describes more than 350 varieties of animals but also consists of
pre-Islamic poetry, personal observations, humor, storytelling and influences of
Aristotle’s zoological texts. Although the Book of Animals consists of a wide
3
“Who Was Al-Jahiz? – 1001 Inventions,” 1001 Inventions, accessed March 5, 2024,
https://www.1001inventions.com/bof-al-jahiz/.
4
Ibid.
5
Sumaya El-Zaher, “The Father of the Theory of Evolution: Al-Jahiz and His Book of Animals - MVSLIM,”
MVSLIM - Inspires, Motivates, Unites, October 9, 2018,
https://mvslim.com/the-father-of-the-theory-of-evolution-al-jahiz-and-his-book-of-animals/.
6
ʻAmr Ibn-Baḥr al-Jāḥiẓ, Kitāb Al-Ḥayawān: ..., 2011.
 range of subjects, the great amount of scientific information given is of great
value. Al-Jahiz introduces the concept of biological evolution in this book. After
observing animals and insects, al-Jahiz concluded that there must be some
mechanisms that influence the evolution of animals, and this was 1000 years
before Darwin did. Al-Jahiz writes about three main mechanisms; the struggle for
existence, the transformation of species into each other, and the environmental
factors.7
● Bayān wa al-tabyīn(Elegance of Expression and Clarity of Exposition)8
● Kitāb al-Bukhala' (The Book of Misers)9
● Risalah fī al-Sharib wa al-Mahrub (Essay on the Drink and Drinkers)
● Book of the Glory of the Black race.

References:

Arifin, Zamri . “Al-Jahiz’s Method of Writing: An Analysis of Risalah Fi al-Sharib Wa

al-Mashrub.” Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 5, no. 29 (December 1, 2014).
https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n29p68.
El-Zaher, Sumaya. “The Father of the Theory of Evolution: Al-Jahiz and His Book of Animals -
MVSLIM.” MVSLIM - Inspires, Motivates, Unites, October 9, 2018.
https://mvslim.com/the-father-of-the-theory-of-evolution-al-jahiz-and-his-book-of-animal
s/.
Jāḥiẓ. Book of the Glory of the Black Race. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
Jāhịz, ̣ Abū ʻUthmān ibn Bahṛ. The Book of Misers: A Translation of Al-Bukhalāʼ, 1997.
Jāḥiẓ, ʿAmr Ibn-Baḥr al-Ǧāḥiẓ, and Charles Pellat. The Life and Works of Jāḥiẓ. Univ of
California Press, 1969.
Jāḥiẓ, ʻAmr ibn Baḥr al-. Al-Bayān Wa-al-Tabyīn, 1893.

7
Sumaya El-Zaher, “The Father of the Theory of Evolution”
https://mvslim.com/the-father-of-the-theory-of-evolution-al-jahiz-and-his-book-of-animals/.
8
ʻAmr ibn Baḥr al-Jāḥiẓ, Al-Bayān Wa-al-Tabyīn, 1893.
9
̣ Abū ʻUthmān ibn Bahṛ Jāhịz, The Book of Misers: A Translation of Al-Bukhalāʼ, 1997.
Jāḥiẓ, ʻAmr Ibn-Baḥr al-. Kitāb Al-Ḥayawān: ..., 2011.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Al-Jāḥiẓ.” Encyclopedia Britannica, July 20, 1998.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/al-Jahiz.
1001 Inventions. “Who Was Al-Jahiz? – 1001 Inventions.” Accessed March 5, 2024.
https://www.1001inventions.com/bof-al-jahiz/.