Ajaib al-Makhluqat wa Gharaib al-Mawjudat

Ajaib al-Makhluqat wa Gharaib al-Mawjudat (The Wonders of Creation and the Oddities of Existence) is a 7th-century AH cosmographical and natural history work by the judge and scholar Zakariya al-Qazwini (d. 682 AH / 1283 CE) Mujam al-Muallifin+1. It explores the celestial and terrestrial realms, combining astronomy, meteorology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, folklore, and descriptions of marvelous phenomena Athar al-Bilad wa Akhbar …+1.

Composition and Purpose

Al-Qazwini composed the work during his period of absence from his homeland Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a…. In the preface, he states that the work contains phenomena that simple or inattentive minds might reject, but which rational persons will not deny, observing that nothing is impossible given the power of the Creator Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a…. He classifies the contents into three types: the unmistakable handiwork of God (whether perceived by the intellect or the senses), witty or curious narratives attributed to their transmitters, and occult or extraordinary properties (khawass) that cannot all be verified through personal experimentation within a single lifetime Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a…. He cautions readers against rejecting all such properties merely because some are doubted, illustrating his point with the example of a magnet: its property of attracting iron ceases when exposed to the smell of garlic, yet returns when washed with vinegar Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a….

Structure and Contents

The book opens with four preliminary introductions (muqaddimat):

1. The explanation of wonder (al-'ajab) Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a….
2. The classification of created beings (taqsim al-makhluqat) Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a….
3. The definition of the strange (al-gharib), which he defines as any marvelous, rare occurrence that deviates from familiar habits, encompassing prophetic miracles (mu'jizat), the charisms of the righteous (karamat), and extraordinary occurrences Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a…+1.
4. The division of existing entities (taqsim al-mawjud) Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a….

The body of the book is arranged into two main treatises (maqalat):

• The First Treatise (On Celestial Beings / al-'Uluwwiyyat): Divided into thirteen examinations (nazar), this treatise covers the celestial spheres (al-aflak), their forms, arrangements, and motions, proceeding from the sphere of the Moon through Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the sphere of the fixed stars, and the outermost Sphere of Spheres (Falak al-Aflak) Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a…+1. It also discusses angels, constellations, the passage of time, and calendar systems Ajaib al-Makhluqat wa Gha…+1.
• The Second Treatise (On Terrestrial Beings / al-Sufliyyat): Covers everything beneath the lunar sphere, beginning with the four classical elements (fire, air, water, and earth) and the three generated kingdoms (al-muwalladat): minerals, plants, and animals Ajaib al-Makhluqat wa Gha…+1. The zoological section classifies animals according to their means of self-defense and divides them into humans, jinn, riding beasts, domestic cattle, predatory animals, birds, and insects and creeping creatures, adding entries arranged alphabetically on their medicinal, magical, and practical properties Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al…. The treatise also addresses waters, springs, wells, seas, and unusual sea life, closing with a chapter on strangely shaped races and fantastical creatures, such as Gog and Magog and the inhabitants of remote islands Ajaib al-Makhluqat wa Gha…+1.

Sources and Method

Al-Qazwini incorporates geographical, historical, literary, and natural scientific traditions, citing earlier travel writers and scholars such as Abu Hamid al-Andalusi al-Gharnati and works like Tuhfat al-Ghara'ib Athar al-Bilad wa Akhbar …+2. Alongside empirical and philosophical theories concerning the elements, planetary orbits, and the generation of springs and minerals, he includes accounts of legendary nations, sea monsters, and folkloric wonders Ajaib al-Makhluqat wa Gha…+2.

Editions and Translations

The Arabic text was edited by Heinrich Leberecht Fleischer and published under the direction of Ferdinand Wüstenfeld in Göttingen in 1849 Iktifa al-Qanu bima huwa …+1. It was also printed in Cairo in 1305 AH on the margins of al-Damiri's Hayat al-Hayawan al-Kubra Iktifa al-Qanu bima huwa …+1. A chapter dealing with the Syrian/Roman calendar months was separately published with a Latin translation and commentary by Wilhelm Volck in Leipzig in 1859 Iktifa al-Qanu bima huwa …. An illustrated Persian translation was printed by lithograph in Tehran in 1264 AH Iktifa al-Qanu bima huwa …+1.