Assalam alaikum, Yaqut Hamawi (Ibn Abdullah al-Rumi) came of Greek parentage and was born in 574 AH (1179 AD). Whist a young boy, he was captured and later purchased by a Baghdad merchant who came from Hama (hence the name Hamawi).
Yaqut is one of the most celebrated of Muslim geographers and his work is of tremendous importance as it gives us a picture of the world of Islam just before the destruction of its culture and prosperity at the hands of the Mongols. Yaqut lived a truly adventurous life. First he undertook commercial travels for his master, but after his third journey in 1194 AD to the island of Krish (in the Persian Gulf), he left his benefactor. He became a pupil of Ukbari and after acquiring some learning became a bookseller and decided to write himself. In 1213 AD he again went on a journey, first to Tabriz, then to Mosul, Syria and Egypt. Two years later he started from Damascus on his eastern journey and came to Nishapur in the following year, and at Marw, he studied many valuable works. Thus he equipped himself to write, but whilst at Balkh he heard of the first onrush of the Tartar hordes and quickly returned to Mosul in 1220 AD. His great `Geographical Dictionary' (Mujam al-Buldan) was finished in 1224 AD and he died five years later in Aleppo. Yaqut was a self made man of wide learning and varied experiences and his writings reveal enormous industry. Mujam al-Buldan described in alphabetical order every town and place which the author could obtain information on. The book deals with historical, ethnographical and physical matters and carries an introduction pertaining to the size of the earth, climatic zones and physical, mathematical and political geography in general. Besides, the book also gives detailed accounts of the Islamic lands from Spain to Tranzoxiana and India, as seen in the 13th century AD. Yaqut's other monumental work Mujam al-Udaba (Dictionary of Learned Men) also provides useful geographical information, besides literary notes. He made a thorough study of the outstanding geographical works before his time and in fact references to several compilations no longer available and only found in his books. May Allah Almighty have mercy on us all, ameen. fi amanillah, assalam alaikum, f ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/TXWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** {Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy Quran-16:125) {And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33) The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim] The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all." [Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of IslamCity unless sanctioned or approved otherwise. If your mailbox clogged with mails from IslamCity, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest". Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islamcity/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
