Ka'b ibn Zuhayr

Ka'b ibn Zuhayr (died c. 646 AD) was a celebrated Arabian poet and a companion of the Prophet Muhammad. As the son of the renowned pre-Islamic poet Zuhayr ibn Abi Sulma, Ka'b is recognized as a "Mukhadram" poet, having lived through both the Pre-Islamic (Jahiliyya) and Early Islamic eras. Initially a vocal opponent of the new faith, he composed satirical verses against the Prophet, leading to a death warrant. However, he eventually traveled to Medina to seek pardon and recited his masterpiece, "Banat Su'ad" (Su'ad has departed), in the Prophet's presence. Moved by its eloquence, the Prophet granted Ka'b his own mantle (Burda) as a sign of protection and honor, earning the poem its fame as "Al-Burda." Ka'b's poetry is esteemed for its linguistic rigor and transition of classical Arabic motifs into the Islamic tradition.