Al-Jahiz

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"Do not think I am a librarian. I am a writer! Many of these are my own works. Though I do collect, it is true."

―Al-Jahiz to Basim, 860s.

Abū ʿUthman ʿAmr ibn Baḥr al-Kinānī al-Baṣrī (776 – 868/869), commonly known as Al-Jahiz (Arabic: الجاحظ; lit.: "the Bug-eyed"), was an Arab writer and author credited with describing certain principles related to natural selection a millennium before the 19th century English naturalist Charles Darwin. Among his best known works were the Kitab al-Bukhala (Book of Misers) about courtly etiquette and the Kitab al-Hayawan (Book of Animals) which collected anecdotes and proverbs centered around animals.

In his later years, Al-Jahiz spent his time in the House of Wisdom, where he looked to collect rare books to keep in his collection. In the early 860s, the Alamut Hidden One Basim Ibn Ishaq helped Al-Jahiz to collect such books, and was rewarded for his efforts in return.

According to legends, Al-Jahiz's love of both writing and collecting books was so extensive that it inadvertently caused his death when a bookshelf collapsed and crushed him while he was looking through part of his large volume of literature.

Behind the scenes

Al-Jahiz is a historical character featured in the 2023 video game Assassin's Creed: Mirage, where he is located in the House of Wisdom and acts as a quest giver for the Lost Books collectibles. Historically, he retired to Basra in 861 after Caliph al-Mutawakkil's assassination.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Mirage (first appearance)
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)