About Muhammad ibn Wasif
Muhammad ibn Wasif was a poet.
Muḥammad ibn Waṣīf (; died 909 CE) was an Iranian poet and secretary who flourished in the 9th century in the service of the Saffarid dynasty of Sistan. He is considered to be author of one of the earliest works of poetry in Early New Persian according to the regulations of Arabic quantitative metre (sc. ʿarūḍ).
Fragments of four of Wasif's poems, probably qasidas, are cited in the Tarikh-i Sistan. The anonymous author of the Tarikh-i Sistan mentions that the first of the poems had been written by Wasif around the time of Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar's (861–879) conquest of Herat in 867 or his killing of the Kharijite Ammar two years earlier in 865. According to the same author, Wasif had written the poem as Ya'qub could not understand the panegyrics addressed to him in Arabic by his court poets.
Wasif's career lasted for over fifty years, as the last fragment in the Tarikh-i Sistan mentions the captivity of Amr ibn al-Layth's (879–901) two grandsons Tahir and Ya'qub in 908/9.
Wasif died in 909.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Muhammad ibn Wasif?
9th-century Iranian poet and secretary
When did Muhammad ibn Wasif die?
Muhammad ibn Wasif died in 909.
What was Muhammad ibn Wasif's occupation?
Muhammad ibn Wasif was a poet.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Muhammad ibn Wasif
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Muhammad ibn Wasif. https://biography.guide/muhammad-ibn-wasif/
MLA: "Muhammad ibn Wasif." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/muhammad-ibn-wasif/.
Chicago: "Muhammad ibn Wasif." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/muhammad-ibn-wasif/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:03 UTC