Ahmad ibn Rustah Isfahani (Persian: احمد ابن رسته اصفهانیAḥmad ibn Rusta Iṣfahānī), more commonly known as Ibn Rustah (ابن رسته, also spelled Ibn Rusta and Ibn Ruste), was a tenth-century Persian[1] explorer and geographer born in Rosta district, Isfahan, Persia.[2] He wrote a geographical compendium known as Kitāb al-A‘lāq al-Nafīsa (Arabic: كتاب الأعلاق النفيسة, Book of Precious Records). The information on his home town of Isfahan is especially extensive and valuable. Ibn Rustah states that, while for other lands he had to depend on second-hand reports, often acquired with great difficulty and with no means of checking their veracity, for Isfahan he could use his own experience and observations or statements from others known to be reliable. Thus we have a description of the twenty districts (rostaqs) of Isfahan containing details not found in other geographers' works. Concerning the town itself, we learn that it was perfectly circular in shape, with a circumference of half a farsang, walls defended by a hundred towers, and four gates.
His information on the non-Islamic peoples of Europe and Inner Asia makes him a useful source for these obscure regions (he was even aware of the existence of the British Isles and of the Heptarchy of Anglo-Saxon England) and for the prehistory of the Turks and other steppe peoples.
He traveled to Novgorod with the Rus' and compiled books relating his own travels, as well as second-hand knowledge of the Khazars, Magyars, Slavs, Bulgars and other peoples.
"As for the Rus, they live on an island … that takes three days to walk round and is covered with thick undergrowth and forests; … They harry the Slavs, using ships to reach them; they carry them off as slaves and … sell them. They have no fields but simply live on what they get from the Slav's lands … When a son is born, the father will go up to the newborn baby, sword in hand; throwing it down, he says, 'I shall not leave you with any property: You have only what you can provide with this weapon.'"[3]
His impression of the Rus' seemed to be very favorable:
"They carry clean clothes and the men adorn themselves with bracelets and gold. They treat their slaves well and also they carry exquisite clothes, because they put great effort in trade. They have many towns. They have a most friendly attitude towards foreigners and strangers who seek refuge."
This is in contrast to the account of Ibn Fadlan and other Arab authors, whose views on hygiene (based on Islamic hygienical jurisprudence) contrasted with that of the Rus'. However, the word clean initially appeared in the first Russian translation of Ibn Rustah by professor Daniel Chwolson (who also misspelled his name as Ibn Dasta(h)). Consecutive Russian editions of Chwolson's translation include a footnote saying that the Arabic original clearly says the opposite, unclean or impure, and suggesting that Chwolson made such a correction intentionally, out of a remote concern that modern Russians might be offended by such characteristic.[4]
Of ancient Croatia he wrote in the chronicle Al-Djarmi:
"Their ruler is crowned … He dwells in the midst of the Slavs … He bears the title of 'ruler of rulers' and is called 'sacred king'. He is more powerful than the Zupan (viceroy), who is his deputy … His capital is called Drzvab where is held a fair of three days every month."
About a certain king of the Caucasus Ibn Rustah wrote:
"He prayed on Fridays with the Muslims, on Saturdays with the Jews and on Sundays with the Christians. 'Since each religion claims that it is the only true one and that the others are invalid', the king explained, 'I have decided to hedge my bets.'"
He also travelled extensively in Arabia and is one of the early Persian explorers to describe the city of Sana'a. In his Book of Precious Records, he writes:
"It is the city of Yemen — there not being found in the highland or the Tihama or the Hijaz a city greater, more populous or more prosperous, of more noble origin or more delicious food than it. … San'a is a populous city with fine dwellings, some above others, but most of them are decorated with plaster, burned bricks and dressed stones."
Translations
Абу-Али Ахмед Бен Омар Ибн-Даста. Известия о хозарах, буртасах, болгарах, мадьярах, славянах и руссах. — СПб.: тип. Императорской Академии Наук, 1869. [Russian translation.]
Literature
Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1997). "EBN ROSTA, ABŪ ʿALĪ AḤMAD". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. VIII, Fasc. 1. pp. 49–50.
Abū Alā Ahmed ibn Omar Ibn Rosteh; Ahmed ibn Jakūb ibn Wadhih al-Kātib Al-Jakūbi (1870), Goeje, M. J. de (ed.), "Kitāb Al-A'Lāk An-Nafāsa VII auctore Abū Alā Ahmed ibn Omar Ibn Rosteh et Kitāb Al-Boldān auctore Ahmed ibn Jakūb ibn Wadhih al-Kātib Al-Jakūbi", Bibliotheca Geographorum Arabicorum (in Arabic and Latin), Lugdunum Batavorum (Leiden): Brill, 7
Ibn Rustah (1892), M. J. De Goeje (ed.), "Kitāb al-A'lāk an-Nafīsa", Bibliotheca Geographorum Arabicorum [BGA], Leiden: E. J. Brill
Notes
^Bosworth 1997. "EBN ROSTA, ABŪ ʿALĪ AḤMAD b. ʿOmar (d. after 290/903), Persian author of a geographical compendium."
^Ibn Rustah was identified with the writer ibn Dasta, by Mihály Kmoskó (1876–1931).. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
ahmad, rustah, isfahani, persian, احمد, ابن, رسته, اصفهانی, aḥmad, rusta, iṣfahānī, more, commonly, known, rustah, ابن, رسته, also, spelled, rusta, ruste, tenth, century, persian, explorer, geographer, born, rosta, district, isfahan, persia, wrote, geographica. Ahmad ibn Rustah Isfahani Persian احمد ابن رسته اصفهانی Aḥmad ibn Rusta Iṣfahani more commonly known as Ibn Rustah ابن رسته also spelled Ibn Rusta and Ibn Ruste was a tenth century Persian 1 explorer and geographer born in Rosta district Isfahan Persia 2 He wrote a geographical compendium known as Kitab al A laq al Nafisa Arabic كتاب الأعلاق النفيسة Book of Precious Records The information on his home town of Isfahan is especially extensive and valuable Ibn Rustah states that while for other lands he had to depend on second hand reports often acquired with great difficulty and with no means of checking their veracity for Isfahan he could use his own experience and observations or statements from others known to be reliable Thus we have a description of the twenty districts rostaqs of Isfahan containing details not found in other geographers works Concerning the town itself we learn that it was perfectly circular in shape with a circumference of half a farsang walls defended by a hundred towers and four gates Ahmad ibn Rustah IsfahaniNationalityIranianScientific careerFieldsGeography Contents 1 Recorded information 2 Translations 3 Literature 4 NotesRecorded information EditHis information on the non Islamic peoples of Europe and Inner Asia makes him a useful source for these obscure regions he was even aware of the existence of the British Isles and of the Heptarchy of Anglo Saxon England and for the prehistory of the Turks and other steppe peoples He traveled to Novgorod with the Rus and compiled books relating his own travels as well as second hand knowledge of the Khazars Magyars Slavs Bulgars and other peoples He wrote of a 10th century city of the Rus As for the Rus they live on an island that takes three days to walk round and is covered with thick undergrowth and forests They harry the Slavs using ships to reach them they carry them off as slaves and sell them They have no fields but simply live on what they get from the Slav s lands When a son is born the father will go up to the newborn baby sword in hand throwing it down he says I shall not leave you with any property You have only what you can provide with this weapon 3 dd His impression of the Rus seemed to be very favorable They carry clean clothes and the men adorn themselves with bracelets and gold They treat their slaves well and also they carry exquisite clothes because they put great effort in trade They have many towns They have a most friendly attitude towards foreigners and strangers who seek refuge dd This is in contrast to the account of Ibn Fadlan and other Arab authors whose views on hygiene based on Islamic hygienical jurisprudence contrasted with that of the Rus However the word clean initially appeared in the first Russian translation of Ibn Rustah by professor Daniel Chwolson who also misspelled his name as Ibn Dasta h Consecutive Russian editions of Chwolson s translation include a footnote saying that the Arabic original clearly says the opposite unclean or impure and suggesting that Chwolson made such a correction intentionally out of a remote concern that modern Russians might be offended by such characteristic 4 Of ancient Croatia he wrote in the chronicle Al Djarmi Their ruler is crowned He dwells in the midst of the Slavs He bears the title of ruler of rulers and is called sacred king He is more powerful than the Zupan viceroy who is his deputy His capital is called Drzvab where is held a fair of three days every month dd About a certain king of the Caucasus Ibn Rustah wrote He prayed on Fridays with the Muslims on Saturdays with the Jews and on Sundays with the Christians Since each religion claims that it is the only true one and that the others are invalid the king explained I have decided to hedge my bets dd He also travelled extensively in Arabia and is one of the early Persian explorers to describe the city of Sana a In his Book of Precious Records he writes It is the city of Yemen there not being found in the highland or the Tihama or the Hijaz a city greater more populous or more prosperous of more noble origin or more delicious food than it San a is a populous city with fine dwellings some above others but most of them are decorated with plaster burned bricks and dressed stones dd Translations EditAbu Ali Ahmed Ben Omar Ibn Dasta Izvestiya o hozarah burtasah bolgarah madyarah slavyanah i russah SPb tip Imperatorskoj Akademii Nauk 1869 Russian translation Literature EditBosworth Clifford Edmund 1997 EBN ROSTA ABu ʿALi AḤMAD Encyclopaedia Iranica Vol VIII Fasc 1 pp 49 50 Abu Ala Ahmed ibn Omar Ibn Rosteh Ahmed ibn Jakub ibn Wadhih al Katib Al Jakubi 1870 Goeje M J de ed Kitab Al A Lak An Nafasa VII auctore Abu Ala Ahmed ibn Omar Ibn Rosteh et Kitab Al Boldan auctore Ahmed ibn Jakub ibn Wadhih al Katib Al Jakubi Bibliotheca Geographorum Arabicorum in Arabic and Latin Lugdunum Batavorum Leiden Brill 7Ibn Rustah 1892 M J De Goeje ed Kitab al A lak an Nafisa Bibliotheca Geographorum Arabicorum BGA Leiden E J BrillNotes Edit Bosworth 1997 EBN ROSTA ABu ʿALi AḤMAD b ʿOmar d after 290 903 Persian author of a geographical compendium Ibn Rustah was identified with the writer ibn Dasta by Mihaly Kmosko 1876 1931 Areen arabcin Archived from the original on 2007 09 27 Retrieved 2007 01 21 National Geographic March 1985 See footnote 35 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ahmad ibn Rustah amp oldid 1117643408, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
