Biography
Baha' al- Din Zuhayr was born in Mecca, which is now in Saudi Arabia. His full name was Abu al-Fadl Zuhayr ibn Muhammad al-Muhallabi. He was educated in Qus in Egypt during the Ayyubid Dynasty and later moved to Cairo.
In Cairo he entered the service of the prince as-Salih Ayyub, and his fortunes knew many ups and downs. Initially he served as the prince's secretary during a campaign in Syria, when the prince was imprisoned due to family differences, Baha' al- Din stayed close and remeained loyal, his loyalty paid a rich dividend when as-Salih Ayyub became the Sultan, as he immediately appointed him as his vizier, unfortunately the poet lost the Sultan's approval and with it also lost his position. He tried but failed to gain favour in Syria and was fated to spend his last years in anonymity.
Baha' al- Din Zuhayr wrote Qasidas (odes of praise) as well as poetry on love and friendship.
His Divan was translated into English by E.H. Palmer and published as The Poetical Works of Beha-ed-Din Zoheir ..
