Ibn al-Mujawir, Yusuf ibn Yaqub
- Died
- 690 AH
- Born in
- -
Yusuf ibn Yaqub Ibn al-Mujawir (601–690 AH / 1205–1291 CE) was a Damascene historian, writer, and scholar of hadith, best known for his historical and geographical treatise Tarikh al-Mustabsir.
Identity and Background
His full name was Abu al-Fath Jamal al-Din Yusuf ibn Yaqub ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Shaybani al-Dimashqi. Originating from Damascus, he is distinguished in biographical literature from his near-contemporary namesake, the vizier and poet Abu al-Fath Najm al-Din Yusuf ibn al-Husayn Ibn al-Mujawir (d. 601 AH / 1204 CE).
Scholarly Contribution
Ibn al-Mujawir is celebrated for his travelogue and regional survey Tarikh al-Mustabsir, which documents the geography, regional histories, and local customs across the southern and western Arabian Peninsula. His accounts span the regions of the Hejaz, Yemen, and Hadramawt, charting an itinerary that begins at Mecca and extends as far as Bahrain. The work is notable for recording social customs, trade dynamics, and administrative practices, such as the duties imposed on North African pilgrims at ports like Jeddah under the authority of the rulers of Mecca.
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List of Works
Tarikh al-Mustabsir (The Guide for the Perceptive Observer) is a seventh-century AH geographical and historical treatise detailing the geography, history, and customs of the Arabian Peninsula. Focusing on western and southern Arabia, the work documents regional itineraries, local practices, historical anecdotes, and economic conditions, tracing a route that begins in Mecca and extends through the Hejaz, Yemen, and Hadramawt before concluding at Bahrain.