Ṭuways

Ṭuways (Arabic: طُوَيْس; lit. 'little peacock'; 8 June 632 – c. 710—711), formerly romanized as Ṭuwais, was an Arab singer and teacher during the Rashidun Caliphate and early Umayyad Caliphate. He was among the effeminate Mukhannath and his life was the subject of numerous proverbs.^[1]

Ṭuways was born as Abū ʿAbd al-Munʿim ʿĪsā b. ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḏh̲āʾib on 8 June 632 in Medina; this was the same day as the death of Islamic prophet Muhammad.^[1] Later events in his life also coincided with the deaths of important Islamic figures: he was weaned on the day that Abu Bakr (the first Rashidun caliph) died; circumcised when Umar (the second Rashidun caliph) was assassinated, married when Uthman (the third Rashidun caliph) was murdered, and his first son was born when Ali (the fourth and final Rashidun caliph) died. This string of exceptional coincidences led to the proverb, "More unfortunate than Ṭuways".^[1]

He was an important teacher to prominent Arab musicians.^[1]

• Farmer, H. G. (2012) [1936]. "Ṭuwais". In Houtsma, M. Th.; Arnold, T. W.; Basset, R.; Hartmann, R. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam, First Edition. Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers. doi:10.1163/2214-871X_ei1_SIM_5850. ISBN 978-90-04-08265-6.

• Touma, Habib (1975). The Music of the Arabs. pp. 8, 135.