Al Asha’l Akbar

Al Asha’s original name is Maymun b. Mihran. He was among the famous and foremost poets of the Age of Ignorance of Divine Guidance. The oldest poem composed to praise the Prophet (pbuh) is a few couplets from a qasidah by Al Asha. The real intention behind these couplets was not one of praise for the Prophet. After wandering around in a couple of valleys, Al Asha approached the Prophet and recited those couplets with the intention of obtaining something material from him. Therefore, his words contained neither religious excitement nor true love for the Prophet.