A view of one of the two "Iwans" overlooking the courtyard of the so-called "Abbasid Palace" ("al-Qasral-'Abbasi") in Baghdad.
The Caliph Haroun Al-Rasheed (also written Harun Al-Rashid, who
reigned for 23 years from 786-809 CE) built a magnificent Scientific
Academy (Majma' ‘Ilmi) in which was housed a huge bookstore (Khizanat
Kutub) containing manuscripts and books about various subjects in the
arts and the sciences and in different languages. (MJ & AS, p. 130)
These works were collected by three successive generations of
Caliphs: First by his grandfather the Caliph Abu Ja'far Al-Mansour (also
written Al-Mansur, who reigned for 21 years from 754-775 CE and who
built The Round City of Baghdad in 762-766 CE). Secondly, by his father
Caliph Mohammad Al-Mahdi (who reigned for 11 years from 775-785 CE).
Thirdly, by himself when he came across them during his travels,
campaigns and expeditions. This Scientific Academy was called the House
of Wisdom (Bayt Al-Hikma and Dar Al-Hikma). (MJ & AS, p. 130)
Strictly speaking from a linguistic point of view, in Arabic, the
term Bayt refers to one roofed space which has a corridor (Dihleez),
while Manzil denotes a complex containing more than one Bayt, a covered
court (Sahn Musaqqaf) and a kitchen (used by a man and his family),
while again a Dar refers to a bigger complex containing more than one
Bayt and more than one Manzil and a courtyard opened to the sky. Hence,
in the ascending hierarchy of size and spaces, it is a Bayt, a Manzil
and a Dar. However, people tend to use Bayt, Manzil and Dar
interchangeably. (Muhit-ul-Muhit)
The Abbasids' House of Wisdom in Baghdad (Bayt Al-Hikma) was referred
to as such during the reign of the Caliph Al-Rasheed. However, when his
son Al-Ma'moun became a Caliph, he expanded and extended Bayt Al-Hikma
to become truly Dar Al-Hikma with one wing (Riwaq) for each subject. (MJ
& AS, p. 130)
The House of Wisdom was also referred to as Al-Hikma Bookstore
(Khizanat Al-Hikma), and The House of Wisdom Bookstore of Al-Ma'moun
(Khizanat Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ma'mouniya). It should be pointed out that the
Arabic term Khizanat Kutub, meaning literally a bookstore, is an old
name meaning a present day library.
From MineCraft game, This build is inspired by the House of Wisdom, of ancient Baghdad. (Source)
In this Academy, translators, scientists, scribes, authors, men of
letters, writers, authors, copyists and others used to meet every day
for translation, reading, writing, scribing, discourse, dialogue and
discussion. Many manuscripts and books in various scientific subjects
and philosophical concepts and ideas, and in different languages were
translated there. (MJ & AS, p. 130)
The languages which were spoken, read and written there were Arabic
(as the lingua franca), Farsi, Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Greek and Latin;
also occasionally Sanskrit, which was used to translate the old Indian
manuscripts in astronomy and mathematics.
The Caliph Abdulla Al-Ma'moun (who reigned for 20 years from 813 to
833 CE) and who was the son of the Caliph Haroun Al-Rasheed extended and
expanded the House of Wisdom (Bayt Al-Hikma) and designated a gallery
(Riwaq) for each branch of science (‘Ilm). Many scientists (‘Ulama') in
the Arts and Sciences, famous translators, commentators and authors, etc
were daily working in the House of Wisdom (reading, translating,
copying, commenting, and writing as well as taking part in dialogue,
discussions and discourse. (MJ & AS, p. 130)
Among the famous translators was Youhanna bin Al-Batriq Al-Turjuman
(the Translator Jonah son of the Patriarch), who was more at home with
philosophy than medicine, and who translated the Book of Animals (Kitab
Al-Haywan) by Aristotle which was in nineteen discourses (Maqalat). (MJ
& AS, p. 130 quoting Al-Qifti, p. 31). Also, there was Hunayn bin
Ishaq (Isaac) Al-‘Ibadi, who translated some of the works by the Greek
physician Hippocrates. (MJ & AS, p.130 quoting Al-Qifti, p.248)
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| The Almageste
was translated into Arab by Ishâq b. Hunayn (830-910). This manuscript,
copied in a North African writing, dates back to the beginning of the
XIIIth century (Image from: http://classes.bnf.fr/idrisi/pedago/culture) |
Al-Ma'moun made Hunayn the Head of the
Translation Department (Diwan Al-Tarjama). Hunayn was good in four
languages: Syriac, Arabic, Farsi and Greek. It is reported that the
Caliph used to give him the equivalent weight in gold to that of the
books he had translated into Arabic. Hence, it is also reported that
Hunayn used to choose for his translated books the thickest of the
paper, and used to order his scribes to write in big letters and to make
a wide margin between the lines. Hunayn had translated many books from
Farsi, Greek and Syriac.(MJ & AS, p. 132). (Although this storey has
been reported, the author wonders how true it is, and how many times it
had happened, for such excessive generosity would have bankrupted the
Treasury of the Caliphate (Bayt Al-Maal). It also does not put Hunayn in
good light, giving the impression of being greedy and selfish).
The renowned scholar Abu Yousuf Ya'qoub Al-Kindi (physician,
philosopher, mathematician, geometer, logician, and astronomer) was
chosen by Al-Ma'moun to be one of the scholars charged with the
translation of the works of Aristotle. He had his own personal library
at home, which was referred to as Al-Kindiya (NM, p. 164 & M. A.
Martin, p. 19 in HAYES)
It is said that Al-Ma'moun had heard about the magnificent Sicily
Library, so he wrote to the King of Sicily asking him for the entire
content of the Sicily Library (which was rich in philosophical and
scientific books of the Greeks) to incorporate it in the library of the
House of Wisdom. The King on the advice of his bishops (that the
contents of these books did no good to the people of the Ancient World)
sent the content of the Sicilian Library to the Caliph. (MJ & AS, p.
131)
It is also said that Al-Ma'moun used the load of one hundred camels
to transport from Khurasan (in north east Persia) to Baghdad magnificent
hand-written books and manuscripts to include them in the library of
Dar Al-Hikma. Hence, Al-Ma'moun took special interest in translation and
transcription. (MJ & AS, p. 131)
Al-Ma'moun requested the Byzantine Emperor at the time for permission
to send some of his scientists (‘Ulama') to translate the useful books,
which were stored in the Empire; the Emperor replied positively to his
request. The Caliph then sent out some of his scientists, and ordered
them to translate what they could of the Greek Wise men and to correct
what others had translated. Among the scientists the Caliph had sent out
were Al-Hajjaj bin Mater, Ibn Al-Batreeq, Salam bin Haroun (the keeper
and supervisor of Bayt al-Hikma), Youhanna bin Masawayh and Hunayn bin
Ishaq. (MJ & AS, pp. 131 & 132)
Among the Luminaries of the time whose names were associated with the
House of Wisdom (and who used to use it for reading, writing, scribing,
translation, and authorship) were: Banu Musa bin Shakir Al-Munajjim
(the Astronomer) who were a father and three sons called Muhammad,
Ahmad, and Al-Hasan; Yahya bin Abi Mansour Al-Munajjim Al-Ma'mouni (the
Ma'moun Astronomer); Muhammad bin Musa Al-Khawarizmi; Sa'eed bin Haroun
Al-Katib (the Scribe); Hunayn bin Ishaq (Isaacs) Al-'Ibadi, and his son
Ishaq, and his maternal nephew Haseeb Al-Hasan Al-As'am (the Deaf);
Thabit bin Qurra; ‘Umar bin Farrukhan Al-Tibari; Yahya bin Abi Mansour
Al-Mosuli, Al-Sunouberi Al-Halabi, Al-Fadhl bin Bobekht, ‘Allan
Al-Shu'oubi, etc. (MJ & AS, p. 131 quoting Al-Qifti, pp. 148, 178,
185 & 234)
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| Al-Khwarazmi on a Soviet Union Stamp. |
It is important to point out that Al-Ma'moun (who was fluent in
Arabic and Farsi for his mother was Persian from Khurasan) used to
preside over and actively participate with the scientists, scholars and
wise men their seminars, discourses and discussions of various subjects
in the Arts and the Sciences. (MJ & AS p.130)
Within the library of the House of Wisdom, there may well have been
separate libraries for the collection of different Caliphs: Al-Mansour,
Al-Mahdi, Al-Rasheed, and Al-Ma'moun. There may well have been different
keepers, supervisors and cataloguists for such libraries or
collections.
It would seem from the above account that the House of Wisdom was in
fame, status, scope, size, resources, patronage, etc. similar to that of
the present day British Library in London or the Nationale Bibliotheque
in Paris, in addition to being an Academy for the Arts and the Sciences
where scholars came together for dialogues, discussions and discourses.
Al-Ma'moun built an astronomical observatory (Marsad Falaki) in the
Shammasiya district of Baghdad and gave its running to Sanad bin Ali
Al-Yahoudi who was known as Al-Ma'moun's Astronomer (Munajjim Ma'mouni),
and to Yahya bin Abi Mansour, and Khalid bin Abdil Malak. As a result
of his observations and those of his colleagues, Sanad wrote a
well-known Zeej or an ephemeris (which is a table of the calculated
positions of a celestial object at regular intervals throughout a
period). It is said that Sanad became a Muslim at the hands of
Al-Ma'moun himself. (MJ & AS, p. 130)
Very sadly and tragically, the House of Wisdom came to a brutal end
on 12 February 1258 CE with the Mongol invasion of Baghdad led by Hulegu
(the grandson of Chingis Khan), who killed the last Abbasid Caliph
Al-Musta'sim (despite his surrender to Hulegu in order to spare the
destruction of the City of Baghdad and its cultural heritage); Hulego
also ordered the slaughter of the Caliph's entire family and relatives,
as well as all those in the Caliphate Court (Bilat Al-Khilapha). This
was the end of the Abbasid Caliphate.
The magnificent collection of books and manuscripts of the House of
Wisdom was thrown into the muddy waters of the River Tigris whose brown
colour turned black for days as a result of the washing away of the ink
used in the of the writing of these books and manuscripts.
In addition to the Library of the House of Wisdom, there were many
other Baghdadi Libraries (Khaza'in Al-Kutub Al-Baghdadiya) attached to
the many Faith Schools (Madaris, singular Madrasa), each containing
thousands of books and manuscripts. (ref). There were also private
individual libraries, which were not open to the general public, but
were available to scientists, philosophers, researchers and writers.
(NM, pp. 129-136 & 144-147; MJ & AS, pp. 254 & 255)
One must also distinguish between this Abbasids' House of Wisdom and
the Fatimids' House of Wisdom (Dar Al-Hikma), which was established in
Cairo in 1005 CE by the Caliph Al-Hakim. This Academy was closed in 1171
CE when Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyobi (Saladin) put an end to the Fatimids
Dynasty in Egypt, and sold the palace treasures, including the contents
of this Academy. (NM, p.144 & E of I)
One must also mention that in some of the cities of the Eastern
Provinces of the Islamic World, several "Houses of Science" (Dour
Al-‘Ilm, singular Dar Al-‘Ilm), or more accurately "Houses of
Knowledge", were established in the 9th and 10th Centuries to emulate
that of Dar Al-Hikma in Baghdad. (MJ & AS, pp. 254 & 255; NM, p.
129) Such cities included Mosul, Basra, Shiraz, Rayy, etc. (Encycl. of
Islam).
Imaginary drawing of the "House of Wisdom" library (Source)
It is reported about Al-Ma'moun that he gathered a group of wise men
(Hukama') and asked them to prepare a map of the world for him, and
which they did; this was known as Al-Ma'mounite Picture (Al-Soura
Al-Ma'mouniya). It far exceeded those, which were available during the
lifetime of Ptolemy and other Greek geographers. Also, about twenty
geographers wrote a book about geography for Al-Ma'moun. (MJ & AS,
pp. 133 &134)
Al-Ma'moun took after his father Al-Rashid in establishing many
higher institutes, observatories, and factories for textiles. It is said
that the number of higher institutes during his reign reached 332, and
they were packed with students pursuing various subjects in the Arts and
in the Sciences.(ref). These were built in according to the finest
style, and most of them were in mosques and monumental buildings
(Mashahid); this figure excludes the equivalent of primary schools
(Katateeb) not including schools.
He also built hospitals (Bimarstanat or Maristanat), which were
crowded with their physicians, surgeons, 0pthalmists, dentists, and
their students (and of course as well as patients). (MJ & AS, p.
133)
1001 inventions
"House of Wisdom" Canvas: Scholars from all over the Muslim world
worked at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. The illustration depicts
scholars, both male and female and of many faiths, who came to study and
research at this Baghdad powerhouse.
Some of the historians have given Al-Ma'moun the title of "The Master
of Arabic Civilisation" (Ustad Al-Hadhara Al-Arabiya) because of what
he had left behind of useful scientific knowledge and cultural heritage.
(MJ & AS, p. 133 quoting Rifa'I, vol. 1, p. 375 etc.) His
achievements had great impact in introducing civility, civilisation,
culture and heritage to the Arabs (and of course to the Muslims as a
whole as well).
It is important to put the House of Wisdom in the Context of the city
of Baghdad as the Capital of the Islamic World during its Golden Age.
Baghdad played a major part in the propagation and spread of knowledge
in the Arts and in the Sciences and in the development of their material
wealth.
Baghdad had reached its highest reputation and glorious status during
the reigns of the Caliphs Al-Rasheed, Al-Ma'moun, Al-Mu'tadhid and
Al-Muktafi. Its buildings had expanded widely on both banks and sides of
the river Tigris, in a form of urbanism resembling that of contiguous
towns, and its population had reached about one million. It was the
centre for Islamic (if not the world) culture and civilisation, as well
as the headquarters for the Arts, Sciences and Letters. It was crowded
with Scientists, Physicians, philosophers, Mathematicians, Astronomers,
Men of Letters, Poets, Writers, Translators, Scribes, and Professionals
in the various arts and crafts, etc.
Additionally, one must mention the Great Library of Cordoba of the
Umayyad Dynasty in Andalusia with its thousands of magnificent books and
manuscripts. One can only imagine its invaluable collection when one
reads that after 1492 and during the Spanish Inquisition when about
half-a-million of its priceless books and manuscripts were deliberately
and callously burnt!
There were rivalry and competitions between these three libraries in
obtaining the most magnificent books and manuscripts as well as in
attracting the best scholars to work there. Such competitions were very
beneficial to the advancement of scientific research and publications in
the Islamic World.
The round city of Baghdad in the 10th century at the time of House of Wisdom. Illustration: Jean Soutif/Science Photo Library (Source)
It would not be an exaggeration to imagine camel caravans loaded with
magnificent books and manuscripts criss-crossing the Islamic World on
their way to reach the magnificent Libraries of Bayt or Dar A-Hikma in
Baghdad, Dar Al-Hikma in Cairo or the Great Library of Cordoba.
Tragically, during the 2003 war in Iraq, the Central Library in
Baghdad, the House of Islamic Manuscripts (Dar Al-Makhtoutat
Al-Islamiya) in Baghdad, and many other university and public libraries
in Baghdad, Mosul and Basra were pillaged and burnt down. The heritage
contained in the Iraqi Museum suffered the same.
A point has to be made here about the term Medieval frequently used
in civilisation literature. It is not acceptable to speak of "Islamic
Medieval Civilisation", "Islamic Medieval Architecture", "Islamic
Medieval Science", "Islamic Medieval Philosophy", etc. This is because
the term "Medieval" applies to European history only , for while Europe
was asleep during the Dark Ages, Middle Ages, Medieval Ages, Islamic
Civilisation, Culture and Heritage were in ascendancy and reached their
highest achievements in various parts of the Islamic World.
Proposed alternative terms may include: "Golden Age of Islam",
"Golden Age of Islamic Civilisation", "Islamic Age", "Islamic Era",
"Islamic Epoch", "Islamic Time", etc.).
House of Wisdom illustration (Source)
A Short Selected Bibliography
Al- Bustani, Butrus (1987);
Muhit al-Muhit: an Arabic-Arabic Dictionary. Librairie du Liban.
Al-Khatib Al-Baghdad,
T'areekh Baghdad (Baghdad's History) in 16 vol.
Al-Qifti, Ali bin Yousuf;
T'areekh Al-Hukama'. (The History of Wise Men).
Encyclopaedia Of Islam (2nd Edition).
Hayes, John B. (Editor), (1983 2nd Edition).
The Genius of Arab Civilization: Source of Renaissance. (Acollection of 11 articles /papers by different specialist authors). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, x, 260 pp., illust.
Jawad, Mustafa; and Susa, Ahmad (1958);
A Detailed Guide to Baghdad's Map: in Baghdad's Plans, Old and Modern. Baghdad: Iraqi Scientific Academy Press, x, 405 pp., illust.
Ma'rouf, Naji (1968); "Thaqafat Al-Baghdadiyin" (The Baghdadis' Culture), pp. 127-197 in
Baghdad: An Illustrated Historical Exposition, by Mustafa Jawad, Ahmad Susa, Mohammad Makiya, and Naji Ma'rouf. Baghdad: Iraqi Society of Engineers.
Rifa'i, Ahmad Fareed; (1928, 4th edition), ‘Asr Al-Ma'moun (Al-Mansour's Era), in 3 vol., Cairo.
Roper, Geoffrey (2005): "The Fate of Manuscripts in Iraq and
elsewhere." A lecture given at Al-Furqan Islamic Foundation, Wimbledon,
London on 18.05.2005 in 11 pages.
Yaqout ibn `Abd Allah al-Hamawi (Yaqut);
Irshad Al-Areeb Ila Ma'rifat Al-Adeeb.
Yaqout ibn `Abd Allah al-Hamawi (Yaqut) ;
Mu'jam al-Buldan. Bayrut : Dar Sadir, 1955-1957.
13-th century manuscript, drawn by Al-Wasiti of the celebrated book “The
Assemblies”. Written by Hariri, shows a library in Baghdad
