Hilāl al-Ṣābiʾ

Hilāl al-Ṣābiʾ was a historian, bureaucrat, and man of letters in the Buyid era. He served as a secretary (katib) in the courts of various Buyid amirs, a position that allowed him unparalleled access to the inner workings of the government. His most renowned work, 'The Book of Gifts and Rarities' (Kitāb al-Hadāyā wa al-Tuḥaf), provides an invaluable glimpse into the political, social, and economic life of his time. His writings, characterized by their detailed administrative and cultural insight...See more