Ibn Jubayr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ibn Jubayr
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| Born | 1 September 1145 |
| Died | 29 November 1217 (aged 72) |
| Occupation | Geographer, traveler, poet |
Ibn Jubayr (born September 1, 1145 – died November 29, 1217) was a famous Arab geographer, traveler, and poet from al-Andalus (what is now Spain). He is best known for his detailed travel diary, which describes his long journey to Mecca. This journey, known as a pilgrimage, took place between 1183 and 1185.
During his travels, Ibn Jubayr explored the lands ruled by Saladin in Egypt and the Levant. On his way back home, he also visited Christian Sicily. There, he observed the unique mix of cultures that thrived on the island.
Who Was Ibn Jubayr?
Early Life and Education
Ibn Jubayr was born in 1145 in Valencia, Spain. His family belonged to the Kinanah tribe. One of his ancestors, 'Abdal-Salam ibn Jabayr, had come to Spain in 740 AD.
Ibn Jubayr studied in the town of Xàtiva, where his father worked for the government. Later, Ibn Jubayr became a secretary for the Almohad governor of Granada.
Why Did Ibn Jubayr Travel?
Ibn Jubayr did not clearly state why he decided to travel. However, it is known that he chose to perform the Hajj, which is a religious duty for Muslims to visit Mecca. He began his journey from Granada on February 3, 1183, accompanied by a doctor from the city.
Ibn Jubayr's Amazing Journeys
Sailing to Egypt
Ibn Jubayr left Granada and crossed the Strait of Gibraltar to Ceuta, which was then under Muslim rule. On February 24, 1183, he boarded a ship from Genoa and set sail for Alexandria.
His sea journey took him past the Balearic Islands and along the west coast of Sardinia. The ship faced a terrible storm between Sardinia and Sicily. Ibn Jubayr noted that even experienced sailors had never seen such a severe tempest. After the storm, the ship continued past Sicily and Crete, then turned south towards the North African coast. He finally arrived in Alexandria on March 26.
Exploring Alexandria's Wonders
When Ibn Jubayr arrived in Alexandria, he was surprised by the customs officials. They insisted on collecting taxes from pilgrims, even if they were not required to pay.
In Alexandria, he visited the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was still standing at that time. He was amazed by its huge size and beauty. He wrote that it could be seen from over seventy miles away and was incredibly old and strong.
Ibn Jubayr was also impressed by the city's free colleges and hostels for students from other lands. Alexandria also had public baths and hospitals. These services were supported by donations and local funds. He noted that Alexandria had between 8,000 and 12,000 mosques. After an eight-day stay, he traveled to Cairo.
Life in Cairo Under Saladin
Ibn Jubayr reached Cairo three days later. He greatly admired the new Sunni ruler, Saladin. He praised Saladin's generosity, saying that the Sultan's support reached every mosque, hospital, and college.
For example, when the Nile River did not flood enough, Saladin would cancel the land tax for farmers. Ibn Jubayr also noted Saladin's fairness, which made the roads safe for people to travel day and night without fear.
In Cairo, Ibn Jubayr saw many colleges and hostels built by Saladin for students and religious men. These places offered lodging, teachers, and money to cover students' needs. The Sultan also provided baths, hospitals, and doctors who would visit patients at their homes. Another kind act by Saladin was distributing 2,000 loaves of bread to the poor every day. Ibn Jubayr was also amazed by the large number of mosques in Cairo, estimating there were between 8,000 and 12,000.
He visited the al-Qarafah cemetery, where many important figures in Islamic history were buried. He saw that Saladin was extending the walls of the citadel to protect the city from future attacks by Crusaders. He also saw a large bridge being built over the Nile, designed to be high enough to avoid being submerged during the annual floods.
Ibn Jubayr visited a spacious free hospital in Cairo. It had separate sections for men, women, and people needing special care. He also saw the famous pyramids and the Sphinx. He observed a device called a Nilometer, which was used to measure the height of the Nile's floodwaters.
Discovering Sicily's Volcanoes and Cities
Later in his travels, from December 1184 to January 1185, Ibn Jubayr visited Sicily. He wrote about the island's active volcanoes:
"At the close of night a red flame appeared, throwing up tongues into the air. It was the celebrated volcano (Stromboli)... As for the great mountain in the island, known as the Jabal al-Nar [Mountain of Fire], it also presents a singular feature in that some years a fire pours from it... It passes nothing it does not burn until, coming to the sea, it rides out on its surface and then subsides beneath it."
The city of Palermo also greatly impressed Ibn Jubayr. He described it as the main city of the islands, full of wealth and beauty. He called it an ancient and elegant city, with wide roads and gardens. He noted that the Christian women in Palermo dressed similarly to Muslim women, spoke fluently, and wore cloaks and veils.
Travels Through Crusader Lands
Ibn Jubayr also traveled to other important cities like Medina, Mecca, Damascus, Mosul, Acre, and Baghdad. In Basra, he observed how Indian timber was carefully used to build ships with Lateen sails.
He returned home in 1185, again traveling through Sicily. His journey was not easy and included a shipwreck. On both his trips, he sailed on ships from Genoa.
Ibn Jubayr spent 32 days in the Christian Crusaders' Kingdom of Jerusalem. Thirteen of these days were spent waiting in the port of Acre for good winds. He famously described how Muslims lived and prospered in the kingdom:
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He noted that Muslims lived comfortably in farms and villages under Frankish rule. They gave half their crops to the Franks at harvest time and paid a small tax per person. Other than these taxes, they were not bothered, and their homes and belongings were left to them. Ibn Jubayr observed that many Muslims appreciated the fairness of their Frankish landlords, especially when compared to some Muslim governors.
Ibn Jubayr's Legacy
His Famous Travel Book
Ibn Jubayr's travel chronicle gives a very detailed and vivid picture of the places he visited. His book is special because it's not just a list of places and monuments. It also includes his observations on geography, culture, religion, and politics. For example, he wrote about the cultural changes in Palermo after the Norman conquest. He also noted how King William II of Sicily adopted some Muslim-influenced customs.
His writings are a very important source for understanding the lives of Muslims living in the Crusader states. This is especially true because of his thirty-two-day stay in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Ibn Jubayr's writing style helped create a new type of travel writing called "Rihla" or creative travelogue. It combines personal stories, descriptions of places, and interesting anecdotes.
How His Work Influenced Others
Ibn Jubayr's travel chronicle became a guide for many writers who came after him. Some even copied parts of his work without saying where they got it from. For instance, Ibn Juzayy, who wrote about Ibn Battuta's travels around 1355 AD, copied sections that Ibn Jubayr had written 170 years earlier. These copied parts described cities like Damascus, Mecca, Medina, and other places in the Middle East. Other writers like al-Sharishi, al-Abdari, and Al-Maqrizi also used passages from Ibn Jubayr's work.
A copy of Ibn Jubayr's original manuscript is kept at the Leiden University Library. This 210-page manuscript was made in Mecca in 1470 AD. The complete Arabic text was first published in 1852 by William Wright. Later, an updated edition was published in 1907 by Michael Jan de Goeje. His work has also been translated into Italian (1906), English (1952), and French (1949-1956).
See also
In Spanish: Ibn Yubair para niños
- Ghurabiyya Shia
- Roger I of Sicily
