Author. Jahiz was the author of many books. His Albayan, according to Ibn Khaldun, was one of the four most important books on art and literature in Arabic. Kitab ul Haiyam is a mine of information about Arab proverbs, traditions, superstition and the like. He was an ardent Muttazalite and was the founder of the Jahizya sect of Itizal. Jahiz Umar was born in Basra.