A mention by one of the attendees of the poetry exchange between al-Mubarrad and Abu al-Abbas Tha'lab.

The questioner : Al-Mubarrad composed a satirical poem against Abu al-Abbas Tha'lab, the imam of the people of Kufa in grammar. When he did so, it was said to Abu al-Abbas, "Al-Mubarrad has composed a satirical poem against you." He asked, "With what? Or what did he say?" They replied: "I swear by the sweet, smiling one *** And the lover’s complaint to the lover, if he had written grammar about the Lord *** It would have only increased the blindness of his heart."

Another questioner : If he had written grammar.

The questioner : Grammar.

Another questioner : ... "If he had written grammar."

The questioner : "About the Lord *** It would have only increased the blindness of his heart." It was then said to him, "He means he is satirizing you with this." He said: "Recite to me what Abu al-Ala' recited—meaning Abu al-Ala' ibn Amr, and so on—where he said: 'Abd ibn Mas'ud satirized me *** So I protected my soul and my honor from him *** And I did not answer him out of my contempt for him *** And who bites the dog if it bites?'"