Hellmut Ritter

Rabia Balkhi (Arabic: رابعة بنت كعب, Persian: رابعه بلخی) also known as Rabia al-Quzdari (or Khuzdari), was a 10th-century writer who composed poetry in Persian and Arabic. She is the first known female poet to write in Persian. A non-mystic poet, her imagery was later transformed into that of a mystic poet by authors such as Attar of Nishapur (died 1221) and Jami (died 1492). She became a semi-legendary figure, famous for her love story with the slave Bektash. Her shrine is located in the maus…