He was born in Iraq and is regarded by many as the greatest Arabic language poet. He primarily wrote panegyrics in a flowery, bombastic style marked by improbable metaphors. Owing to his poetic talent, Mutanabi received an education. When Shi'ite Qarmatians sacked Al-Kufah in 924 he joined them and lived among the Bedouin, learning their doctrines and Arabic. Claiming to be a prophet, hence the name al-Mutanabbi ("The Would-be Prophet"), he led a Qarmatian revolt in Syria in 932. After its suppression and two years' imprisonment, he recanted in 935 and became a wandering poet. He began to write panegyrics in the tradition established by the poets In 948 he attached himself to Sayf Al-Dawla, the Hamdanid poet-prince of northern Syria. During his association with Sayf Al-Dawlah, Mutanabi wrote in panegyrics praise of his patron that rank as masterpieces of Arabic poetry. The latter part of this period was clouded with intrigues and jealousies that culminated in Mutanabi leaving Syria for Egypt which was then ruled in name by the Ikhshidids. Mutanabi attached himself to the regent, the black eunuch Abu al-Misk Kafur, who had been born a slave. However, he offended Kafur with scurrilous satirical poems and fled Egypt in 960 to Shiraz in Iran, where he lived under the protection of the Adud Al-Dawlah until 965.