Hassan ibn Thabit

Ḥassān ibn Thābit (حسان بن ثابت) (born c. 563, Medina died 674) was an Arabian poet and one of the Sahaba, or companions of Muhammad, who was best known for poems in defense of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

He was born in Medina, and was a member of the Banu Khazraj tribe. Muhammad gave him a slave, Sirin, as a concubine.

His writings in defence of Muhammad refer to contemporary events that have been useful in documenting the period. He was also Islam's first religious poet.

Life
According to Islamic tradition Hassan lived for 120 years, sixty years before converting to Islam and another sixty thereafter. In his youth he traveled to Al-Hirah and Damascus, then he settled in Medina, where, after Mohammad's arrival, he accepted Islam and wrote poems in his defense.

Death
Hassan bin Thabit passed away in Al-Madinah between the years 655 and 661 and during the caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Talib at the age of around 120. Some historians suggest that Hassan bin Thabit died during the caliphate of Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan between the years 670 and 674.

Legacy
The Palestinian poet Salim Al-Ya'qubi titled himself as "Hassan of Palestine" and chose it as a literary pseudonym.