Al-Maqdisi
Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad Shams al-Dīn Al-Maqdisī مُحَمَّد ابْن أَحْمَد شَمْس ٱلدِّيْن ٱلْمَقْدِسِي | |
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Born | c. 945/946 CE Islamic geography |
Notable works | The Best Divisions in the Knowledge of the Regions |
Shams al-Din Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Abi Bakr (
Al-Maqdisi is one of the earliest known historical figures to self-identify as a Palestinian during his travels.[2][3]
Biography
Sources
Outside of his own work, there is little biographical information available about al-Maqdisi.[4] He is neither found in the voluminous biographies of Ibn Khallikan (d. 1282) nor were the aspects of his life mentioned in the works of his contemporaries.[5]
Early life and education
He was born in
As can be inferred by his work and social background, al-Maqdisi was likely well-educated.[4] Miquel asserts that al-Maqdisi's use of "rhymed prose, even poetry" is indicative of a strong knowledge in Arabic grammar and literature.[4] Likewise, his writings show that he possessed an early interest in Islamic jurisprudence, history, philology and hadith.[4]
Pursuits in geography
Al-Maqdisi made his first Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) in 967.[4] During this period, he became determined to devote himself to the study of geography.[6] To acquire the necessary information, he undertook a series of journeys throughout the Islamic world,[6][7] ultimately visiting all of its lands with the exception of al-Andalus (Iberian Peninsula), Sindh and Sistan.[7] The known dates or date ranges of al-Maqdisi's travels include his journey to Aleppo sometime between 965 and 974, his second pilgrimage to Mecca in 978, a visit to Khurasan in 984 and his stay in Shiraz in 985 when he decided to compose his material.[4] The finished work was titled Aḥsan al-taqāsīm fi maʾarfat al-aqalīm (The Best Divisions for the Knowledge of the Provinces).[8]
Work
Though possibly influenced by predecessors al-Jahiz (d. 869), who introduced the "science of countries", and Ibn al-Faqih (fl. 902), al-Maqdisi "surpassed" both "all to the advantage of what certainly should be called a true geography", according to Miquel.[8] Moreover, Miquel surmises that al-Maqdisi "was probably the first to have desired and conceived" true geography as an "original science", an assertion that al-Maqdisi himself makes in the preface of Aḥsan al-taqāsīm.[8] He belonged to the school known as the "atlas of Islam", inaugurated by Abu Zayd al-Balkhi (d. 934) and developed by Istakhri (d. 957) and al-Maqdisi's contemporary Ibn Hawqal (d. 978).[8]
Al-Balkhi's school almost exclusively dealt with the Islamic world, to which al-Maqdisi too devoted his studies.
Description of Palestine
Aḥsan al-taqāsīm gives a systematic account of all the places and regions al-Maqdisi had visited.
Al-Maqdisi also gave extensive overviews of
Guy Le Strange comments on al-Maqdisi's work:
His description of Palestine, and especially of Jerusalem, his native city, is one of the best parts of the work. All that he wrote is the fruit of his own observation, and his descriptions of the manners and customs of the various countries, bear the stamp of a shrewd and observant mind, fortified by profound knowledge of both books and men.[6]
Description of Eastern Arabia
Al-Maqdisi mentioned regions in Eastern Arabia which form parts of what are now Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman. Al-Hasa is an important oasis region in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, whereas Tuwwam is another oasis region split between the UAE and Oman, comprising the modern settlements of Al Ain and Al-Buraimi on different sides of the Omani-UAE border. Dibba is another region split between the UAE and Oman, touching the Musandam Peninsula, which is partly ruled by the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, where the ancient settlement of Julfar is located.[10]
See also
- List of Arab scientists and scholars
- Zedekiah's Cave
References
- ISBN 978-1-4020-4559-2.
- ISBN 9782351592656. Archived from the originalon 19 Mar 2018.
- ISBN 978-9953441351. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Miquel 1993, p. 492.
- ^ a b Al-Mukaddasi, ed. Le Strange 1886, p. iii
- ^ a b c d e Le Strange 1890, pp. 5–6
- ^ a b Scholten 1980, p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Miquel 1993, p. 493.
- ^ a b c d e f g Avni 1994, pp. 3–4.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-7802-3580-6. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
Bibliography
- Avni, Gideon (2014). The Byzantine-Islamic Transition in Palestine: An Archaeological Approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-968433-5.
- Le Strange, G. (1890). Palestine Under the Moslems: A Description of Syria and the Holy Land from A.D. 650 to 1500. Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
- Gildemeister, J. (1884). "Mukaddasi". Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins. 7: 143 –172, 215 – 230.
- ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2.
- Mukaddasi (1886). Le Strange, G. (ed.). Description of Syria, including Palestine. London: Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society.
- Scholten, Arnhild (1980). "Al-Muqaddasi, c. 945-c. 988". In Freeman, T. W.; ISBN 978-1-4742-3110-7.
Further reading
- Collins, Basil Anthony (1974). Al-Muqaddasi; the man and His Work. Michigan Geographical Publication.
- Al-Muqaddasi (1994). The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions. Ahsan al-Taqasim Fi Ma'rifat al-Aqalim. Translated by Basil Anthony Collins. Reading: Garnet Publishing. ISBN 1-873938-14-4.