Rābia Balkhi-Biography-First Woman Persian Poet

Rābia Balkhi or Rabeha Balkhi or Rabia Balkhi Quzdāri also known as “Zayn al-Arab” was the first woman poet of Iran (Persian), present-day Afghanistan. Rābia Balkhi is also considered as the first woman poet of Islamic world. She was born in a royal family in 10^th century AD in Khasdar, in the city of Balkh, Khorasan, Iran, (present-day Afghanistan).

Her father, Kāb al-Quzdāri, was originally a native of Arab, and he had immigrated to Balkh. Kāb al-Quzdāri (Quzdaari) held and important post of a chieftain during the rule of King Amir Nasr II of Iranian Samanid dynasty.

Amir Nasr was a great patron of Persian poetry, literature and art. He patronized and rewarded the poets. Often, he used to organize the forum of poets reciting verses at his royal palace.

• Also read about the biography of Ferdowsi, a Persian Poet.

Rābia’s father was a respected man and he had access to the court of king and to the forum of poets. Rābia also accompanied her father to the forum of poets from her childhood. She listened to poetry recited by the renowned court poets.

In the process of attending the poets’ forum, Rābia Balkhi, developed a poetic interest and talent. She, too, started to compose verses and poems in Persian language.

After the death of her father, Rābia’s brother named Hāres (also known as Hāreth) occupied the seat of chieftain, and he was in power now. Hāres was obsessed with a mindset of social and class discrimination in his personal and family life.

There are many legends and popular stories in Afghanistan and Iran about the Hāres’s atrocities done to a servant Baktāsh (Baktaash). One of the most popular and heart wrenching stories is about the love affair of Rābia and a servant named Baktāsh.

Baktāsh was the servant (slave) of chieftain Hāres. Rābia and  Baktāsh fell in love with each other. It was a secret, not to be expressed to others due to fear of Hāres. Somehow, Hāres, the brother of Rābia, came to know about this matter.

Hearing this news, Hāres became very angry loosing his mind and he imprisoned and killed the Rābia’s beloved, Baktāsh. He also imprisoned Rābia in the house. When she came to know that her beloved has been killed, she shattered from within her existence. She entered in ladies bathing room and she cut her vein. She wrote verses on the wall of bathroom from her blood, expressing her loyalty to the love. She was found dead, of committing suicide, with her last verses on the wall written from her own blood.

Rābia Balkhi, a beautiful lady in her youthful age, had left the world by now, but she has left her poems behind, and nonetheless, a tragic and incomplete love story as well. The writings of Rābia were not known until her death, since she kept it personal. The main theme of her writings is based on the topics like love, nature, emotions, beauty of creation and so on.

Rābia Balkhi is an iconic woman poet and she is mostly celebrated in Afghanistan, Iran, and central Asia. Due to her family nativity and lineage from Arab, she is known as “Zayn al Arab” (Grace or beauty of Arab).

• You may like to read about Saadi Shirazi. About a poet of Iran.

Later on, Reza Quli Khan Hedayat composed Baktaashnameh or Baktāshnameh in 19^th century AD, inspired by Rābia’s love story with the slave Baktāsh. Baktāshnameh is also known as Golestan Eram and it has been written on the poetry meter of Khosrow-vo-Shirin. Reza Quli Khan is a well known writer and poet and he was the tutor of Mozzafar al-Din Shah Qajar.

Apart from above, there are many references and information about Rābia’s life and work mentioned in different sources. The earliest source of information regarding Rābia is found in Awfi’s book Lubabul-al-Bab. Faridudin Attar’s mathniwiyat (masnavi) and Nafahaatul-Uns have also useful information about Rābia’s life.

Rābia was the contemporary to Rudaki, the famous court poet of Samanid dynasty. She was the first woman poet of modern Persian language. She is also the earliest known poet and called the “first documented Persian woman poet” by the Library of Congress.

Rābia Balkhi Quzdāri is still alive in among the people of Afghanistan and Iran. Her poems are recited in schools and universities.  Her references are made by academicians and she is remembered at various occasions and ceremonies and by media.

Rābia Balkhi was good in painting, swordsmanship and horse riding as well. She is a bold icon of courage and bravery to the woman of Afghanistan.

There are many important schools, centers of learning and hospitals named after Rābia, to commemorate her, in Afghanistan, Iran and in other countries of Central Asia today.

Rābia’s Tomb

Rābia’s mausoleum located in the city of Balkh (Afghanistan) is visited by people and youths. They pay their homage and respect to one of the most famous woman poet with an amazing love story. Specially, the young girls and boys, for a long past, had treated her tomb like a saint’s grave. Most of the visitors pray for their own romantic dreams to come true with a happy ending.

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