 Cover of the first Leiden edition | |
| Author | Ibn Hawqal |
|---|---|
| Original title | Al-Masalek wa Al-Mamalek |
| Illustrator | Ibn Hawqal |
| Language | Arabic |
| Subject | Description of a range of countries and regions that Ibn Hawqal visited during his travels |
Publication date | 10th century AD |
| Text | Surat Al-Ard at Wikisource |
| Website | https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33978095/ |
Surat Al-Ard, also known as Al-Masalek wa Al-Mamalek, is a book on geography and travel written by the merchant traveler Abul Qasim Muhammad Ibn Hawqal following his travels, which commenced in 331 AH.[1] The work was influenced by Istakhri,[2] who requested that he complete Maslek and Mamalek. Nevertheless, he ultimately elected to compose a revised volume, drawing upon Istakhri's treatise and a compendium of other geographical works, in addition to his own empirical data and insights gleaned from his peregrinations. Consequently, the content of the book is meticulously presented. In addition to geographical information, the book contains a range of scientific and historical content, including biographical information. Some chapters are presented in the form of a tourist guide. Each region is discussed in detail, with a special map provided for each area.
The book exists in multiple versions, each exhibiting distinctive characteristics. The initial manuscript included a dedication to Sayf al-Dawla al-Hamdani,[3] while a second copy from 367 presented a critical analysis of the Hamdanids.[4] Other versions demonstrate a pronounced proclivity towards the Fatimids. In his study, the orientalist Rizzitano posits that the final version of the book was written in 378 AH, following two attempts: one in 356 AH and the other in 357 AH.[5] Nevertheless, there are those who posit that the final copy was produced subsequent to Ibn Hawqal's demise. The multiplicity of versions has resulted in a degree of variation among the extant manuscripts of the book. Consequently, there are numerous manuscripts distributed among various libraries in Istanbul, Leiden, Paris, and elsewhere. Additionally, the book has been published in multiple editions in various countries and has been translated into a number of languages, including English, French, Turkish, and others. These translations have been produced either in their entirety or in part.
- ^ "The Story of Islam | Ibn Huqal. The adventurous traveler and photographer of the earth". islamstory.com. Archived from the original on 2021-07-11. Accessed on 2021-07-01.
- ^ Al-Rehla wa Al-Rahala Al-Muslimoon. P. 117.
- ^ History of Arab geographical literature. P. 201.
- ^ "İBN HAVKAL". Kundun55 (Turkish). 9 Feb 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
- ^ Al-Rehla wa Al-Rahala Al-Muslimoon. P. 118.