The oldest mention of Slavs by an Arab writer (at least oldest currently known) from the end of the 7th century (circa 690). It is a simile by Al-Ahtal (circa 640 – 710) an Arab warrior-poet of the Omayyad period (real name: Ghiyath ibn-al-Salt or Ghiyath ibn Ghawth al-Taghlibi). Al-Ahtal was in the midst of warring (against the Qaisites who were the enemies of the Al-Ahtal’s Taghlibites) and composing poems and many of the poems refer to battles of his patrons.
The Slavic reference is in one of the poems that make up the Diwan collection. The collection itself has most recently seen editions by P. Antun Salhani (twice – based on different manuscripts) and by Eugenio Griffini (another, “Yemeni”, manuscript). The language (not present in all manuscripts) is as follows:
“As if they saw in them a throng of light- [or red- or ruddy-] haired Slavs”
The “they” apparently refers to desert birds (on that see Melanges Asiatiques by Dorn) that were flying/escaping from people (the “them”). The birds were escaping the people as if the people were a group of light-haired (blonde?) or red-haired Slavs. Possibly, the reference of light or red or ruddy is to the skin color of the afore-mentioned Slavs. If red, then perhaps so by reason of the desert sun. In any case, the author apparently thought the Slavs (red or light) were something to be escaping from.
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