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Questions and Answers
What is an important reason for travel in Islam according to the Qur'an?
What is the term for the quest for knowledge in Arabic?
ṭalab al-ilm
Scholars travel to collect hadith as part of their formal training.
True
Which book is considered the earliest account of non-Muslim lands?
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The earliest accounts of non-Muslim lands were predominantly mythical.
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Who is Ibn Fadlan?
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Ibn Fadlan's diplomatic mission was to the king of ________.
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What did Ibn Fadlan describe the Rūs as?
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Ibn Fadlan found the Rūs to be clean and sophisticated individuals.
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Who was Ibn Jubayr?
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What unusual spectacle did Ibn Jubayr encounter in Egypt?
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The focus of travel writings in the second half of the 13th century was primarily on geographical descriptions.
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Who is considered the most famous Arab traveler?
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Ibn Battuta departed from _______ at the beginning of June 1325.
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What was the purpose of the travelogues written in the 17th century?
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The travel experience of ambassadors was similar to that of pilgrims.
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What was the first account of a diplomatic mission to Europe written by?
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The Low Countries consist of ______, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
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Study Notes
Key Developments in Arabic Travel Writing
- Emergence linked to the significance of travel in Islam, emphasized in the Qur’an.
- Travel viewed as a duty for pilgrimage and gaining knowledge (ṭalab al-ilm).
- Scholars regarded travel as a rite of passage to consult learned authorities and gather hadith.
Typology of Travel Accounts
- Early accounts focus on both pious journeys and scholarly pursuits.
- Inspired by piety and the need to understand different cultural spheres: Dār al-Islām vs Dār al-Ḥarb vs Dār al-Kufr.
- Travel regarded as a means to "conquer knowledge" through instruction and endorsement (ijāza).
Themes in Early Travel Writing
- The earliest non-Muslim land account: Akhbar al-Sin wa-l-Hind from the mid-ninth century.
- The first book's compiler remains unknown; Abu Ziyad Al-Sirafi compiled the second book.
- Combines practical information with wondrous tales, useful for traders.
Notable Early Travel Accounts
- Ibn Fadlan, born in 877 in Baghdad, served as a jurist and travel advisor.
- His account accompanies a diplomatic mission to the Volga Bulgars under the Abbasid caliph Muqtadir.
- On June 21, 921, a party set out from Baghdad to teach Islamic law to the pagan Bulgar peoples.
Ibn Fadlan’s Observations
- Described the Volga Bulgars as lacking religious and rational ties.
- Detailed depiction of the Rūs (assumed to be Volga Vikings) including their physical traits and cultural practices.
- Critiqued the Rūs for their hygiene and described them as "the filthiest of all Allah’s creatures."
Rihla: A Unique Literary Form
- Ibn Fadlan's work combines travel experiences with autobiographical elements.
- Captures personal reflections alongside observations of the cultures encountered.
Ibn Jubayr and His Travels
- Ibn Jubayr was a 12th-century Arab Andalusian geographer, traveler, and writer.
- Notable for encountering a giraffe gifted to the Ayyubid Sultan Salah al-Din during his pilgrimage in Egypt, which was showcased in a grand procession.
The Shift in Travel Literature (13th Century)
- The second half of the 13th century marked a transition from geographical and ethnographic descriptions to prosopographical accounts.
- Emphasis on listing scholars, locals met, books read, and ijāzas obtained.
- The prestige of the traveler was prioritized over the specifics of the journey itself.
Ibn Battuta: The Famous Arab Traveler
- Ibn Battuta left Tangier, Morocco, in June 1325, traveling for nearly 25 years through various regions including China and the Maldives.
- His travels resulted in the rihla, which was later “ghostwritten” by Ibn Juzayy, leading to questions regarding its accuracy.
Journey Documentation Trends
- Itineraries for hajj rihlas were often consistent, but journey durations varied significantly, from one year to several decades.
- Many travelogues were penned long after the travels occurred, necessitating a reprocessing of experiences.
- Notable cases include al-Balawi, who took 20 years to document a five-year journey in the 1330s.
- Authors often drew from notes and memories, supplemented by historical and geographical texts for detail.
17th Century: Diplomacy and European Journeying
- The 17th century introduced rihlas relating to travels to European nations, indicating a shift in authorship and destinations.
- Ambassadors' travel experiences contrasted sharply with those of pilgrims, often involving travel to the ‘House of War’ which Islamic law viewed unfavorably.
- Encounters with Christians involved cultural and religious challenges, including the presence of alcohol and non-halal food.
The First Diplomatic Mission Account
- Ibn Qāsim al-Ḥajarī (d. 1645) authored the first documented diplomatic mission to Europe, traveling to France and the Low Countries to negotiate a treaty.
- The Low Countries refer to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, collectively termed Benelux.
Ransoming Muslim Captives
- Moroccan envoys fulfilled roles in ransoming Muslim captives, exemplified by al-Wazīr al-Ghassānī's mission to Spain (1690-1691).
- al-Miknāsī chronicled two diplomatic missions to Spain and another to Malta, Naples, and Sicily (1781-1783).
Travelers' Perceptions and Disclaimers
- Many travelers prefaced their rihlas with disclaimers regarding their motivations for traveling to Europe.
- The experiences were often tinted with negative views towards Christianity, reflecting on historical humiliations like the Reconquista.
- Spain was often referred to as al-‘aduwa ('the enemy'), and its ruler depicted as a despot, emphasizing the ongoing cultural and political tensions.
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Description
This quiz explores the evolution of Arabic travel writing from the 10th to the 21st centuries, highlighting key developments, typologies, and themes. Discover how religious and scholarly inspirations have shaped this genre, particularly in the context of Islamic travel as a duty. Test your knowledge on how these narratives reflect cultural and spiritual journeys.
