Antarah
*The birth of Antarah is celebrated on this date in 525. Antara (as he was called) was a Black North African Soldier and poet.
Antarah Antar Ibn Shaddad was born in Najd (northern Saudi Arabia). He was the son of Shaddad, a member of the Arabian tribe of Banu Abs; his mother was Zabibah, an Ethiopian woman whom Shaddad had enslaved after a tribal war. The tribe neglected Antara, and he grew up in servitude. However, it was obvious that Shaddad was his father. He was considered one of the "Arab crows" because of his Black complexion.
Antara gained attention and respect by his personal qualities and courage in battle, excelling as an accomplished poet and warrior. He earned his freedom after one tribe invaded Banu Abs. Antarah fell in love with his cousin Abla and sought to marry her despite his status as a slave. To secure allowance to marry, Antarah had to face challenges, including getting a special kind of camel from the northern Arabian kingdom of al-No'man Ibn al-Munthir Ibn Ma' al-Sama'. Antarah took part in the great war between the related tribes of Abs and Dhubyan, which began over a contest of horses and was named after them the war of Dahis and Ghabra. He died in a fight against the tribe of Tai.
Antarah's poetry is well-preserved and often discusses chivalrous values, courage, and heroism in battle, as well as his love for Abla. It was immortalized when one of his poems was included in the Hanged Poems. The poetry's historical and cultural importance stems from its detailed descriptions of battles, armor, weapons, horses, desert, and other themes from his time.
