Rihlat Ibn Jubayr
- Author died
- 614 AH
- Editions
- t Dar al-Hilal · t Dar Bayrut
Rihlat Ibn Jubayr (The Travels of Ibn Jubayr) is a classic work of Arabic travel literature composed by the Andalusian scholar and chancery scribe Ibn Jubayr (539 or 540–614 AH / 1145–1217 CE), recording his journey across the Mediterranean, Egypt, the Hijaz, Iraq, the Levant, and Norman Sicily between 578 and 581 AH (1183–1185 CE) .
Title and Composition
The book was titled by its author or early transmitters as Tadhkirat bi-l-Ikhbar 'an Ittifaqat al-Asfar (A Reminder of Reports Concerning the Happenings of Journeys) , and is also cited under the title I'tibar al-Nasik fi Dhikr al-Athar al-Karimah wa-l-Manasik (The Devotee's Contemplation on Noble Monuments and Rites) .
Ibn Jubayr had served as a secretary in Granada to the Almohad governor Abu Sa'id 'Uthman ibn 'Abd al-Mu'min. According to biographical accounts, the ruler compelled him to drink seven cups of wine against his religious principles and subsequently filled the cup seven times with gold dinars as compensation; Ibn Jubayr resolved to use that money to perform the Hajj as an act of expiation . Setting out from Granada on 8 Shawwal 578 AH (3 February 1183 CE) alongside his companion Ahmad ibn Hassan, he began recording his observations at sea on 30 Shawwal 578 AH . The text appears to have been kept as daily journal entries on separate sheets and was later compiled and circulated under its formal title .
Itinerary and Contents
The narrative spans more than three years, concluding upon Ibn Jubayr's return to Andalusia in Muharram 581 AH (April 1185 CE) :
- Andalusia to Egypt: Departing Granada via Tarifa, the travelers boarded a Genoese vessel to Alexandria. Ibn Jubayr traveled down the Nile to Cairo and Qus in Upper Egypt, crossed the desert to the Red Sea port of 'Aydhab, and sailed to Jeddah .
- The Hijaz: He performed the pilgrimage rituals in Mecca, where he stayed for an extended period, and then visited the Prophet's tomb in Medina .
- Iraq and the Levant: Traveling northward with the Iraqi pilgrim caravan, he visited Kufa, Baghdad, and Mosul, before turning toward Aleppo and Damascus . He praised the achievements and governance of Saladin and noted that trade and transit between Muslim and Christian merchants continued unhindered across the borders despite the ongoing Crusades .
- Crusader Ports and Sicily: Reaching Acre, he boarded a Christian ship bound for Messina in Norman Sicily . He described the bustling maritime harbor of Messina and the capital Palermo, observing the lingering Islamic culture and the court of King William II, who employed Muslim ministers, cooks, and officials, and could read and write Arabic .
- Return: Surviving perilous storms and sea voyages, he arrived safely back at Cartagena on the Andalusian coast in Muharram 581 AH .
Method and Style
The work is arranged chronologically as a diary, marking the entry and departure dates for each city and landmark . Ibn Jubayr blends personal reflection with precise geographical, architectural, and socio-political descriptions, utilizing refined rhymed prose alongside factual narrative . It serves as an essential primary document for the Mediterranean world, the Crusader states, Ayyubid Egypt and Syria, and Norman Sicily in the late 12th century .
Modern Editions and Reception
The travelogue gained significant attention among modern scholars and Orientalists :
- The section covering Sicily was edited with a French translation and commentary by Michele Amari in Paris in 1846 .
- The complete Arabic text was first edited and published by William Wright in Leiden in 1852 .
- A revised edition was later published under the auspices of the E. J. W. Gibb Memorial series in 1907 .
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