Ahmad ibn Fadlan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ahmad ibn Fadlan
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|---|---|
| Born | c. 879 |
| Died | c. 960 (aged 80–81) |
| Theological work | |
| Era | Islamic golden age |
| Main interests | Islamic jurisprudence |
Ahmad ibn Fadlan (born around 879, died around 960) was a famous Arab Muslim traveler and writer from the 10th century. He is best known for his detailed travel journal, called a risāla, which means "account" or "journal."
Ibn Fadlan was part of an important group sent by the Abbasid Caliph (ruler) of Baghdad, named al-Muqtadir. This group traveled to the king of the Volga Bulgars. His writings are very important because they give us a close-up look at the lives of people during that time.
His journal is especially famous for describing the Volga Vikings. He wrote about their daily lives as part of a trading group and even saw a special Viking ship burial ceremony.
Many historians have used Ibn Fadlan's detailed writings. His adventures have also inspired books and movies, like Michael Crichton's novel Eaters of the Dead and the film The 13th Warrior.
Contents
Who Was Ahmad ibn Fadlan?
Ahmad ibn Fadlan was an Arab man, but we don't know much about his early life, where he grew up, or exactly when he was born or died.
What we do know is that he was a faqih, which means he was an expert in Islamic law and faith. He worked in the court of the Abbasid ruler, al-Muqtadir, in Baghdad. It seems he had been working there for some time before he began his famous journey.
The Big Journey
Why He Traveled
In the year 921, Ibn Fadlan was sent from Baghdad as a secretary for an important group. This group was sent by the Abbasid Caliph al-Muqtadir to the king of the Volga Bulgars, whose name was Almış.
The main goal of their trip was to teach Islamic law to the Bulgar people. These people had recently become Muslims and lived near the Volga River in what is now Russia. The king of the Volga Bulgars had also asked for help against his enemies, the Khazars. Ibn Fadlan's job was to be the group's religious advisor and guide on Islamic teachings.
The Route They Took
On June 21, 921, the group left Baghdad. They followed old trading routes towards Bukhara (in modern-day Uzbekistan). But instead of going all the way east, they turned north in what is now northeastern Iran.
They traveled through lands belonging to many different Turkic groups. These included the Khazar Khaganate, the Oghuz Turks, the Pechenegs, and the Bashkirs. A big part of Ibn Fadlan's story is about the Rus people, who were Vikings trading on the Volga trade route. In total, the group traveled about 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles).
Ibn Fadlan's group finally reached the capital city of the Volga Bulgars on May 12, 922. When they arrived, Ibn Fadlan read a letter from the Caliph to the Bulgar Khan (ruler) and gave him gifts. However, the Khan was disappointed because the promised money from the Caliph to build a fortress against their enemies had not arrived.
What Ibn Fadlan Wrote About
His Famous Journal
For a long time, people only knew parts of Ibn Fadlan's travel journal. These parts were found in an old dictionary written by Yāqūt in the 1800s.
Then, in 1923, a more complete copy of his journal was found in a museum in Iran. This old book, from the 13th century, had 420 pages and included a much longer version of Ibn Fadlan's writings. Even this longer version doesn't seem to be his full report. For example, it doesn't describe his journey back to Baghdad.
The Volga Bulgars
Ibn Fadlan wrote a lot about the Volga Bulgars' religion, especially how they practiced Islam. The Bulgar king had asked for religious teachers to show respect to the Abbasid Caliphs. In return, he hoped for money and military help. Ibn Fadlan's job was to teach Islam and also to handle diplomatic matters.
Ibn Fadlan noticed that the Bulgar Khan made mistakes in his prayers. Ibn Fadlan was quite upset by this, as he felt the Bulgars were not practicing Islam perfectly. He often judged the people he met by how well they understood and followed Islamic faith and customs. He believed that many groups he met were "like asses gone astray," meaning they didn't have a strong connection to God or use their reason well.
I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the Itil. I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blond and ruddy; they wear neither tunics nor kaftans, but the men wear a garment which covers one side of the body and leaves a hand free. Each man has an axe, a sword, and a knife, and keeps each by him at all times. Each woman wears on either breast a box of iron, silver, copper, or gold; the value of the box indicates the wealth of the husband. Each box has a ring from which depends a knife. The women wear neck-rings of gold and silver. Their most prized ornaments are green glass beads. They string them as necklaces for their women.
The Rus' People (Vikings)
A large part of Ibn Fadlan's journal describes a group he called the Rūs. These people are generally thought to be Volga Vikings. The traders were likely from Scandinavia, but their crews also included people from Finland, Slavic lands, and other places.
Ibn Fadlan saw the Rūs as traders who set up their shops near the Bulgar camp by the river. He described them as very tall, like palm trees, with blond hair and reddish skin. He wrote that each man had tattoos from "the tips of his toes to his neck" in dark blue or green patterns. All the men carried an axe, a sword, and a long knife.
Ibn Fadlan described the Rus as being a bit rough and not very polite. This is different from what another Persian traveler, Ibn Rustah, wrote about the Rus, who had a more positive view of them.
Ibn Fadlan in Pop Culture
Ahmad ibn Fadlan is a main character in Michael Crichton's 1976 novel Eaters of the Dead. This book uses many ideas from Ibn Fadlan's original writings. He also appears in the 1999 movie based on the book, The 13th Warrior, where he is played by Antonio Banderas.
Ibn Fadlan's journey is also the topic of a Syrian TV series from 2007 called Saqf al-Alam.
In the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard book series by Rick Riordan, two characters, Samirah "Sam" al-Abbas and her fiancé Amir Fadlen, are said to be descendants of Ahmad ibn Fadlan.
See also
In Spanish: Ahmad ibn Fadlan para niños
