Amir Abd Allah al-Faris al-Hasani: His Life and Tomb in the Flourishing City of Hilla

Abstract

This study traces the lineage of Sayyid Abd Allah al-Faris al-Hasani through his ancestors back to Imam Hasan, and provides a brief account of their lives. It also examines aspects of the biographies of his brothers, some of whom assumed the Sharafah of Mecca after their father.
Sayyid Abd Allah was distinguished by his courage and physical strength, earning him the epithet al-Faris (the Knight). The genealogist Ibn ʿInabah praised him in his work ʿUmdat al-Talib and provided an account of aspects of his life. He was also mentioned by the historian Ibn al-Fuwati in Muʿjam al-Adab, as well as by the genealogist and historian Ibn al-Tiqtaqa al-Tabatabaʾi in his work al-Asili.
Sayyid al-Faris lived in Hilla in considerable prosperity, enjoying a generous status and considerable social standing. The Mongol Sultan Mahmud Ghazan granted him a number of agricultural land grants (iqtaʿs) from which he could derive his livelihood. He was known for his generosity toward those who came to seek his assistance, giving freely from what he possessed. However, the historian Ibn al-Tiqtaqa criticized him for some of his positions and actions. This study addresses these alleged criticisms by examining and responding to them in light of the documented information available concerning Sayyid Abd Allah.