Ibn Alhakim أبو عبدالله محمد بن الحكيم اللخمي

Ibn Alhakim ’ أبو عبدالله محمد بن الحكيم اللخمي’  was a scholar, the governor of Ronda, a scribe in the Granadian court, the chief scribe and later chief minister of Granada, who tragically met a dreadful death. His family, a branch of the Abbad dynasty of Sevilla, belongs to the Banu Lakhm Arab tribe from North Arabia. His family branch adopted the name Ibn Alhakim ’ ابن الحكيم’ , meaning 'the sons (or family) of the physician in honor of his grandfather who was a famous physician. In his youth, he traveled to the East, observing Ramadan in Makkah before moving on to Almadina, Damascus, Baghdad, and Cairo, among other cities. During his travels, he had the privilege of studying under an unprecedented number of esteemed scholars and sheikhs, including distinguished women such as Om Fadil and Sheikha Om Alkhair. After returning to Ronda, which was a state in the Kingdom of Granada, the Sultan Mohammad II of Banu Alahmar passed through the city and Ibn Alhakim composed a poem for him. Captivated by the poem's linguistic brilliance and the elegance of its handwriting, the Sultan appointed Ibn Alhakim as a scribe in the royal Diwan Al Insha ’ ديوان الإنشاء’ (roughly the Secretariat of State). Ibn Alhakim’s exceptional command of language not only secured this position but also propelled his rise within the royal court. He quickly advanced to Chief Scribe ’صاحب القلم الأعلى’ (He who holds the highest pen) and, during the reign of Mohammad III, ascended to the prestigious role of Chief Minister 'ذو الوزارتين' (literally translating to holder of two ministries) - a rare title, encompassing the duties typically held by two individuals, it was granted to only a select few of exceptional brilliance. Ibn Alkhatib ’ابن الخطيب’ remarked that Ibn Alhakim's linguistic prowess was unparalleled. Although his poetry was impressive, it paled in comparison to his narrative writing. A true connoisseur of grammar, he could immediately detect any linguistic ineptness. Despite being busy with state affairs, his love for knowledge never waned, he welcomed anyone seeking it and took care of scholars. His deepest passion was for the Arabic language, and he built such a vast collection of books that it was said his houses could no longer accommodate them. Unfortunately, his collection was lost after he was killed by the new sultan Abu Aljyosh Nasr. His death deeply resonated, prompting poets to commemorate him with eulogistic poems. It is noteworthy that the Arabic language was at the core of governance and the consolidation of power across various phases of Alandalus; the royal court's office was referred to as the 'Diwan Al Insha' (House of Composition), and high-ranking officials were known as 'Katib' (writer) or ‘Sahib Alkalam Alala' (He who holds the highest pen). Proficiency in the Arabic language could secure one the highest positions and earn widespread popularity in Alandalus. Despite their geographical distance, the people of Alandalus did not stray from their ancestors' reverence for their mother tongue, reminiscent of the Jahiliyyah era, where every tribe needed a brilliant poet whose verses could ignite wars or broker peace. Ibn Khaldun ’ ابن خلدون’ noted that the pen and sword are the most vital tools of power; the sword is necessary at the beginning of a reign and if it is crumbling, but between these events, the pen prevails. It is far more significant and is utilized for a longer period, as diplomatic narratives can often spare the costs of war.