During and immediately after his life, he was most famous as a poet and "adib" (a "man of letters"). He wrote many poetry anthologies, such as the "Kitab al-'Asa" ("Book of the Staff"), "Lubab al-Adab" ("Kernels of Refinement"), and "al-Manazil wa'l-Diyar" ("Dwellings and Abodes"), and collections of his own original poetry. In modern times, he is remembered more for his "Kitab al-I'tibar" ("Book of Learning by Example" or "Book of Contemplation"), which contains lengthy descriptions of the Crusaders, whom he interacted with on many occasions, and some of whom he considered friends.