In 921 or 922 ad the arab diplomat ahmad ibn fadlan went on a journey to visit the volga bulgars who were in the process of converting to islam. But perhaps the most memorable passages in the risala, his account of his journeys, concern the varangians, in, the arab traveler ahmad ibn fadlan. A tenthcentury traveler from baghad to the volga river by ahmad ibn fadlan. It was such trading raiders from the rus that ibn fadlan met along the ahmad ibn fadlan chronicled the voyage of an embassy sent from. Download ibn fadlans journey to russia in pdf and epub formats for free. Ahmad ibn fadlan, a muslim diplomat and secretary to an ambassador for the caliph of baghdad, was sent in 921 to the khaganate of bulgars along the middle volga. Ibn fadlan and the rusiyyah university of new mexico. Ahmad ibn fadlan ibn alabbas ibn rasid ibn hammad arabisk skrift. Ahmad ibn fadlan, a muslim diplomat and secretary to an. Ibn fadlan was employed by the abbasid caliph in baghdad when he was accused of an illicit love affair that would ruin his reputation and his career. Hes separated from ahmad ibn fadlan by about 200 years, and more of an adventurer than a traveller, but theres some great stuff in there as well. Arab travellers in the far north a short essay ahmed ibn fadlan was an arab traveller from baghdad, iraq ibn fadlan was a 10thcentury arab muslim traveler, famous for his account of his travels as a. Mckeithens translation of ahmad ibn fadlan s account of his 10 th century travels, and it includes his visit among the rus, who are the norsemen and descendants of norsemen who.
This is a book of ahmad ibnfadlan ibn alabbas ibn rashid ibn hammad, a servant 1 of muhammad ibn sulaiman, the ambassador 2 of almuktadir to the malik of kipchaks where he tells what he saw in the country of the turks, khazars, ruses, kipchaks, bashkir and other peoples, the distinctions of their faiths, history of their maliks, status of many of their affairs a. In that, his account contrasts with that of the persian traveler ibn rustahwhose impressions of the rus were more favourable. Ibn fadlans route from baghdad to bulghar on the volga. Ahmad ibn fadlan ibn alabbas ibn rashid ibn hammad was a 10 th century muslim arab writer and traveller who led an embassy to the king of the volga bulgars. A 10th century arab muslim writer named ahmad ibn fadlan produced a description of a funeral of a scandinavian, swedish, chieftain who was on an expedition on the eastern route. Wikipedia, ahmad ibn fadlan, in wikipedia the free encyclopedia. To write about zeki validis ibn fadlan is by no means an easy task. Perception of the vikings from ibn fadlan s glance in al risala ahmad ibn fadlan met with vikings in volga bulgaria. Can i get my hands on a translation of ahmad ibn fadlans.
Shaikh abu zayds rahmatullahi alaihi name was abdurrahman according to shaikh ibn makula rahmatullahi alaihi and qadi ibn alhadhdha rahmatullahi alaihi. Ahmad ibn fadlan ahmad ibn fadlan ibn alabbas ibn rashid ibn hammad was a 10th century muslim arab writer and traveller who led an embassy to the king of the volga bulgars. Perception of the vikings from ibn fadlans glance in al. The account is a unique source on the ceremonies surrounding the viking funeral, of. Ibn fadlans risalah is considered the only extant firsthand account of the eurasian. Ahmad ibn fadlan chronicled the voyage of an embassy sent from baghdad by. This knowledge raised his position in the court of the caliph. Ahmad ibn fadlan s risala writings in arabic early 10 th century from a wildly different cultural perspective islamic ambassador from baghdad ahmad ibn fadlan ibn alabbas ibn rasid ibn hammad, ambassador from baghdad, risala writings, circa 920 ad. According to the itinerant geographer ibn hawkal, writing in 977, the rus slave trade ran from spain to egypt.
In his rihlarisala travel narrative, account or journal, ibn fadlan, who. Ahmad ibn fadlan ibn alabbas ibn rasid ibn hammad, 1 arabiska. A viking burial described by arab writer ahmad ibn fadlan. Bashkir encyclopedia russian version id 0 references.
His subsequent account of his travels and the peoples he encountered is one of the most important documents from the period. Barbarian turks, bulghars, and rus vikings in the remarkable risala of ibn fadlan. Pdf ibn fadlans role in the islamisation of bulghar society. His account is most known for providing a description of the volga vikings, including an eyewitness account of a ship burial. His risala a tenthcentury account of fadlans travels including descriptions of the rus a people of swedish. Ibn fadlan wrote an account of his journeys with the embassy, called a risala. Ibn fadlan s interaction with peoples of the region newly annexed to the islamic caliphates gave him many insights about the habits, customs, and laws of the rus. Ibn fadlan was an arab missionary sent by the caliph in baghdad to the king of the bulghars. But perhaps the most memorable passages in the risala, his account of his journeys, concern the varangians, in, the arab traveler ahmad ibn fadlan fl. A commentary and translation, canadianamerican slavic studies vol. Ibn fadlan served as the groups religious advisor and lead counselor for islamic religious doctrine and law. His account of his travels with the embassy, the risala, describes his confrontation with a people called the rus or varangians, who were traders and marauders of swedish origin and. For example, the descriptions of the rus funerary customs along the volga in the writings of ibn rustah and ibn fadlan have been connected. They allowed ibn fadlan to witness a funeral as one of the leaders had recently died.
Ahmad ibn alabbas ibn rashid ibn hammad ibn fadlan a. Nothing is known about ibn fadlan other than what can be inferred from his risala. The travels of ibn fadlan muslim heritagemuslim heritage. During the course of his journey, ibn fadlan met a people called the rus, acting as traders in the bulgar capital. He agreed to leave town on a mission to open diplomacy with the bulgars, as a way of getting out of the public eye, and out of possible scandal. On the way he encountered a group of rus or vikings. This risala is of great value as a history, although it is clear in some places that inaccuracies and ibn fadlan s. This is an english translation of the risala, letters by the 10th century scholar ibn fadlan, one of the great medieval travellers. Arab travellers in the far north ebook written by ibn fadlan. For the 10 th century holy man and jurist ahmad ibn fadlan, the violent, orgiastic, drunken spectacle put on by mourning vikings in bulgaria must have been shocking in ibn fadlan s muslim tradition, loved ones cleaned the deceased persons body, said prayers over him, placed him in a shroud and buried him in a relatively shallow grave the same day he died the grave was shallow so the. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read ibn fadlan and the land of darkness. Ibn fadlans arabic text apparently to heighten the readers sense of the rus.
This is the first english translation of the famous risala, letters by the tenthcentury traveler ibn fadlan. The 10th century chronicle of the violent, orgiastic. Ahmad ibn fadlan ibn alabbas ibn rasid ibn hammad, arabisk sprak. Ahmad ibn fadlan met with the vikings in volga bulgaria. His chronicle called risala includes detailed information and observation. Ibn fadlan was a tenthcentury diplomat who, in 922 ad, was sent on a mission from baghdad to the far north by the caliph muqtadir. Key segments of it are universally cited in modern books.
The author of ar risala translated by aisha bewley shaikh abu muhammad abdullah ibn abi zayd rahmatullahi alaihi was one of the people north africa. This is a book of ahmad ibn fadlan ibn al abbas ibn rashid ibn hammad, a servant 1 of muhammad ibn sulaiman, the. Learn more opens in a new window or tab international shipping and import charges paid to pitney bowes inc. But the most important eyewitness account of the rus is of ahmed ibn fadlan, a writer about whom little is known, but whose risala has been translated into several languages. Imad iddine habib ahjed blasphemy and apostasy in morocco he constructed the city walls and built the mosque and its minaret in while maternal ancestry lineages of arab countries are highly diverse, in the paternal ancestry lineage haplogroup j ydna follows the history of arab. Paul lunde studied at london universitys school of oriental and african studies and specializes in islamic history and literature. If youre looking for pleasure reading, a public domain copy of the memoir of usama ibn munqidh is available on. Ibn fadlan was a 10thcentury arab muslim traveler, famous for his account of his travels as a member of an embassy of the abbasid caliph of baghdad to the king of the volga bulgars, known as his risala account or journal.
Ahmad ibn fadlans ris\u0101la writings in arabic early 10. If you would like to read a firsthand account of what appears to be the burial of a prominent viking, please see this link. His chronicle called risala includes detailed information and observations about them. After that rant, tempedt is what i think, please feel free to point out anything i may have missed or if you disagree. Pdf islam is the oldest established religion among bulghar entity, the residents. This risala is of great value as a history, although it is clear in some places that inaccuracies and ibn fadlan s own. In his rihla risala travel narrative, account or journal, ibn fadlan, who in the tenth century, accompanied a mission from the caliph almuktadir to the volga bulgars, describes his experiences and the people and places he visited. Ibn fadlans journey to russia book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. Irreligion in morocco is present at a low level, but is a highly controversial phenomenon.
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