Abū Tammām, Ḥabīb b. Aws al-Ṭāʾī (188–231/804–846), was one of the great Arab poets. Almost every aspect of his life and poetry has been discussed or disputed by scholars. Foremost among these are, as regards his person, his Christian origin; the change of his father's name; his al-Ṭāʾī lineage, which has not been accepted as genuine; and his many j…