Born near Basra, he was known for his Maqamat e Hariri, translated in English as `The Assemblies of al-Hariri (1867 and 1898). His Durrat al Ghawwas fi Awham al Khwass was a grammar book of Arabic and pointed out the errors of expression. His Maqamat was a standard textbook in all the Muslim countries and is being taught even now in the Madarsas of the India-Pakistan sub-continent. These are tales filled with humour, adventure, poetry linguistics and grammar. Hariri had acknowledged his debt for its writing to al Hamdani (969- 1008). He also authored Mulhat al Irab fi Annahw, a poem on Arabic grammar.