Al-Jahiz (781-869 C.E.) has been regarded as one of the most influential scholars in the early Islamic world. He was a scholar in many disciplines including theology, poetry, philosophy and language. Historians considered the Islamic scholar to be the first Islamic zoologist, but he authored many books on various subjects.
Throughout his life, he challenged anti-Black sentiment in the Islamic world and sealed his place in history with his “Treatise on Blacks” that showcased the greatness of African people. Al-Jahiz argued in the book that Black people and their cultural and military accomplishments surpassed that of the Arabs who were actively subjugating them.
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