The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions: A Translation of Ahsan Al-taqasim Fi Maʻrifat Al-aqalimOne thousand years ago al-Muqaddasi, "the man from Jerusalem", wrote in Arabic an epic geographical treatise, which is also a great work of literature. This treatise was based on some twenty years of experiences undergone and observations noted in his survey of the realm of Islam, from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Early in the second half of the nineteenth century the German orientalist, Aloys Sprenger, brought to the attention of the West a manuscript of al-Muqaddasi's work. Sprenger's enthusiasm over the content of the manuscript is reflected in his judgement that its author is the greatest geographer of all time; and this view is shared by many scholars. The translation by Basil Anthony Collins published here is the first rendition into a Western language of al-Muqaddasi's treatise. Al-Muqaddasi was born in the year 945 of the Common Era (CE), which corresponds to the year 334 of the Islamic calendar (AH), and he died towards the close of the millennium. Defining the area of his study as that where the presence of the religious and political institutions of Islam dominated, he travelled throughout the regions observing, enquiring, researching, corroborating, weighing and sifting evidence, taking notes and writing drafts. Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Ma'rifat al-Aqalim, The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions, was eventually published in 985CE/375AH, and a revised edition was produced three years later. Al-Muqaddasi attributes his motivation for travelling for twenty years, suffering hardships and writing about his travels, to divine inspiration: the accomplishment would be pleasing to his Lord, and would give life to his own memory. At the same time, the suggestion that he journeyed as an agent for the Fatimid regime in Egypt cannot be dismissed. Whatever the reason for his travels, al-Muqaddasi shows himself to be a hardy, intelligent, versatile, resourceful and well-informed man. He designed his book to appeal to a variety of interests, and even to entertain. Yet, quite strikingly, his perspective on aspects of the geographical method touches on concerns which have received greater attention only in more recent times. For example, his ranking of settlements according to their functions is quite prescient, his use of maps in accord with modern practice and his excursion into determinism based on toponymy is, to say the least, unusual. All in all, al-Muqaddasi's work bespeaks an interested and interesting man, seeing his world through a frame of reference derived from his deeply held religious belief, yet capable of making assessments with probity and common sense, striving scrupulously to get at the truth of the matter as a true scientist. |
Contents
The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions | 1 |
Narrative of my Actual Experiences | 45 |
of the Qibla | 58 |
Copyright | |
3 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions: A Translation of Ahsan Al ... Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad Muqaddasī No preview available - 1994 |
The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions Al-Muqaddasi,Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad Muqaddasī No preview available - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
Abd Allah Abū Hanīfa abundance Addition/version Adhud al-Dawla Ahlwardt al-Ahwaz al-Andalus al-Basra al-Hasan al-Iraq al-Jibal al-Kūfa al-Maghrib al-Ramla al-Rayy al-Shām al-Sind al-Yaman Alī Arabs Ardabil Arrajan Bāb Baghdad Balkh buildings built Bukhārā canals capital climate cloth cubits Damascus Darb date palms desert dirhams distance drinking water Egypt excellent Fārs farsakhs Fatimids flows fortress four fruits gardens gate Harāt houses Hulwan hundred Ifriqiya inhabitants Isfahan Islām Istakhr Jabal Jayhūn jurisprudence Jurjān Khurasan Khwārazm Kirman land tax Makka markets Marw mentioned metropolis mikhlaf Misr mosque mosque stands mountains Muhammad Muslims Nahr Naysābūr Orientabteilung peace and blessings populous post stages prayer Prophet-God's peace qafiz Qaryat Qasr Qibla quhandiz Qur'ān region Ribāt river road Romaeans route ruler rural district Sābūr Samarqand Sarakhs Shīrāz Sijistān Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz stone stream suburbs sūra Syria Tabaristan Tayma thence thousand Tigris town trees Umar villages Wādī Zaranj