The critics and the literary figures believe that Abu al Atahiyeh (213 or 209-230) is the leading poet of Arabic ascetic poetry, and this poetry is embossed on the temple of Arabic ascetic poetry. His innovation and creativity on ascetic poetry have made the researchers draw various interpretations. Some believe that he has been inspired by Hassan Basri, and some claim that he has cherished the thoughts of Manoy and Buddhism, and some other researchers have sought the root of his ascetic writings in Iranian culture. This study, through a comparative analysis of Ali’s rhetoric and Abu al Atahiyeh’s poetry tries to show that Abu al Atahiyeh has fed and nourished himself in the ocean of Ali’s knowledge. It is evidently seen that he uses Ali as his source of inspiration, at least in the issue of (solution and analysis), he has used Ali’s animating rhetoric in seven couplets of his poetry just shifting from prose to verse, but without any rephrasing of the words. He has also decorated his diction with Ali’s words which, has added key points to his locution. He has used a lot of similes from Nahj ul Balagheh in the texture of his poetry. The significance of this study lies on clarification and revival of one aspect of Ali’s rhetoric, namely its unique domain and its extensive impact on Arabic literature; and above all Ali’s rhetoric even before compiling Nahj ul Balagheh was well-known among the great critics and literary figures like Abu al Atahiyeh.
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