Abú Hámid al-Gharnátí

1080 (age 89)

Granada, Spain

After studying in Alexandria, Abü Hámid visited Cairo and Baghdad, traveled through Persia, crossed the Caucasus, and went up the Volga as far as Bulgár (55° north). He later visited Bashgird (an area then occupied by Hungarian tribes), and then relumed to Baghdad by way of Persia. He later undertook the pilgrimage to Mecca. The latter part of his life was dedicated to the preparation of two works: the Mu'rib and the Tuhfa. Both influenced later Arabic cosmographers, such as al-Qazwini, and they must have undergone many re-elaborations. Other books that appear in general bibliographies have also been attributed to him. Among these works of secondary importance are Nukhbat al-adhhan ft ‘ajffib al-‘ajab (“Selected Memories Concerning the Greatest Marvels”) and Ajffib al-makhlüqdt (“Marvels of Creatures”), both of which appear to be revisions or adaptations of the Mu‘rib and the Tuhfa. The work Murib ‘an bad ‘ajd’ib al-Maghrib (“Anthology of the Marvels of the Maghrib”) has been partially translated into Spanish. The manuscript contains a description of some of the marvels of Andalucía and, above all, some long dissertations on astronomical, astrological, and chronological matters. The part that has been published contains references to his travels through Eurasia and a series of quite interesting observations about physical geography and ethnography, such as one of the oldest descriptions of the skis used by the so-called Yura peoples of the Arctic, complete with diagram. The first information about this text was provided by Emilio García Gómez in A.B.C. (6 January 1947). The description of the flora and fauna of northern Russia is also of great interest. The Tuhfat al-albdb wa-nukhbat al-'ajd’ib (“Gift From the Fleart and Selection of Marvelous Things”) is in some ways similar to the Mu'rib, as in the wording of passages dealing with the same material. But while the Mu'rib may be considered authentic (at least the part that has been published), the same cannot be said for the Tuhfa, the last part of which, as it appears in the Ferrand edition, may contain interpolations by other authors. Also, in the Tuhfa the material referring to Abu Hamid’s homeland is relatively sparse, and it contains common fables of the period. The work consists of four parts: (1) A description of the world and the men and spirits who inhabit it. It includes interesting details about the gold and salt trade in the Sudan, as well as information about how the merchants of the time crossed the Sahara, guiding themselves by the stars. (Texts later than Abu Hamid’s mention use of the compass.) On the other hand, the description he gives of some quasi-human beings, a description repeated in the Latin cosmographic manuscripts of the early Middle Ages, is completely fanciful. (2) A description of strange countries and interesting monuments, such as the pyramids of Egypt and the lighthouse at Alexandria. (3) A description of the seas and the animals that inhabit them, scientifically the most interesting part. He tells us with some degree of realism about flying fish, squid, octopuses, torpedoes, pumice, oil wells, and India paper. (4) A discussion of caves and tombs. This part contains, in an incidental fashion, a description of fossils, data about the utilization of ivory from the Siberian mammoths, and a mention of fireproof asbestos cloth.

Abú Hámid al-Gharnátí Edit Profile

أبو حامد الغرناطي

also known as Abü ‘Abdallah Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Rahlm,

Missionary traveler writer author

Background

Abu Hamid al-Gharnati was born in 1080 in Granada, Spain to of Hispano-Arabic parents.

Education

Abú Hámid emigrated to the Orient by sea, and in 1117 he studied with Abü Bakr al-Turtüshí in Alexandria and Cairo (Egypt) specializing in Islamic law.

$Education period of Ab\u00FA H\u00E1mid al-Gharn\u00E1t\u00ED in Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt$

Career

After studying in Alexandria, Abü Hámid visited Cairo and Baghdad, traveled through Persia, crossed the Caucasus, and went up the Volga as far as Bulgár (55° north). He later visited Bashgird (an area then occupied by Hungarian tribes), and then relumed to Baghdad by way of Persia. He later undertook the pilgrimage to Mecca. The latter part of his life was dedicated to the preparation of two works: the Mu'rib and the Tuhfa. Both influenced later Arabic cosmographers, such as al-Qazwini, and they must have undergone many re-elaborations. Other books that appear in general bibliographies have also been attributed to him. Among these works of secondary importance are Nukhbat al-adhhan ft ‘ajffib al-‘ajab (“Selected Memories Concerning the Greatest Marvels”) and Ajffib al-makhlüqdt (“Marvels of Creatures”), both of which appear to be revisions or adaptations of the Mu‘rib and the Tuhfa.

The work Murib ‘an bad ‘ajd’ib al-Maghrib (“Anthology of the Marvels of the Maghrib”) has been partially translated into Spanish. The manuscript contains a description of some of the marvels of Andalucía and, above all, some long dissertations on astronomical, astrological, and chronological matters. The part that has been published contains references to his travels through Eurasia and a series of quite interesting observations about physical geography and ethnography, such as one of the oldest descriptions of the skis used by the so-called Yura peoples of the Arctic, complete with diagram. The first information about this text was provided by Emilio García Gómez in A.B.C. (6 January 1947). The description of the flora and fauna of northern Russia is also of great interest.

The Tuhfat al-albdb wa-nukhbat al-'ajd’ib (“Gift From the Fleart and Selection of Marvelous Things”) is in some ways similar to the Mu'rib, as in the wording of passages dealing with the same material.

But while the Mu'rib may be considered authentic (at least the part that has been published), the same cannot be said for the Tuhfa, the last part of which, as it appears in the Ferrand edition, may contain interpolations by other authors. Also, in the Tuhfa the material referring to Abu Hamid’s homeland is relatively sparse, and it contains common fables of the period. The work consists of four parts:

(1) A description of the world and the men and spirits who inhabit it. It includes interesting details about the gold and salt trade in the Sudan, as well as information about how the merchants of the time crossed the Sahara, guiding themselves by the stars. (Texts later than Abu Hamid’s mention use of the compass.) On the other hand, the description he gives of some quasi-human beings, a description repeated in the Latin cosmographic manuscripts of the early Middle Ages, is completely fanciful.

(2) A description of strange countries and interesting monuments, such as the pyramids of Egypt and the lighthouse at Alexandria.

(3) A description of the seas and the animals that inhabit them, scientifically the most interesting part. He tells us with some degree of realism about flying fish, squid, octopuses, torpedoes, pumice, oil wells, and India paper.

(4) A discussion of caves and tombs. This part contains, in an incidental fashion, a description of fossils, data about the utilization of ivory from the Siberian mammoths, and a mention of fireproof asbestos cloth.

$Career period of Ab\u00FA H\u00E1mid al-Gharn\u00E1t\u00ED in career$ $Career period of Ab\u00FA H\u00E1mid al-Gharn\u00E1t\u00ED in career$ $Career period of Ab\u00FA H\u00E1mid al-Gharn\u00E1t\u00ED in career$

Achievements

Abu Hamid al-Gharnati was a prolific writer whose valuable observations were expressed in his outstanding written works, the most famous of which was Murib ‘an bad ‘ajd’ib al-Maghrib (“Anthology of the Marvels of the Maghrib”), and his other books had a great success in the Islamic world of his time.

Connections

Acquaintance:: Ibn Hubayra
associate:: Abü Bakr al-Turtüshí

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