Ibn Hawqal and His Geography Work Entitled Ṣūrat al-arḍ

Faruk Korkmaz

Makale detayları

Ibn Hawqal and His Geography Work Entitled Ṣūrat al-arḍ

Yazarlar:

Faruk Korkmaz

Yayıncı:

Hitit University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Tarihi

Dergi:

Hitit İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.23 Issue Din ve Coğrafya, pp.155-174

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

4/2024

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001316463

pISSN:

2757-6949

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This article will explore the biography of Ibn Hawqal, an Islamic geographer who lived in the 10th century, a period in which Islamic geography witnessed significant advancements. The discussion will delve into his life, ongoing debates related to him, his scholarly activities, and an analysis of his notable work, Ṣūrat al-ard, a geography book depicting the Islamic regions during his time from various angels. Furthermore, another topic to be addressed is the general characteristics of the information presented by the work in various areas such as geographical, socio-cultural, economic, and administrative aspects. In this study, an attempt will be made to determine the method followed by Ibn Hawqal in his book, the sources he utilized, the factors that led him to compose his work, whether he applied the principles and methods of the Balkh geographical school to which he belonged, and whether he introduced a new method to geography writing distinct from previous geographers. Ibn Hawqal was originally from Nasibin Nisibis and received a solid education in the prominent centers of knowledge, Baghdad and Mosul, during his time. Although there are some claims regarding the ideologies and beliefs he adhered to, they have not yet been conclusively determined. Not only did he engage in scholarly pursuits, but he also participated in a Byzantine campaign as a member of the states army. From his childhood years onward, he harbored a great curiosity for geography. He not only earned his living through trade but also leveraged his profession to advantage by gathering information about those places from merchants coming from other regions. Distinguishing himself from other geography scholars, he wrote his book based on the notes he obtained through the extensive travels he undertook. He traversed region by region from Khurāsān and Mā Warāʾ al-nahr to al-Andalus, from Anatolia to the farthest points of Arabia, exploring the Earth. Devoting approximately thirty years of his life to exploring Islamic cities, Ibn Hawqal demonstrated great meticulousness regarding the accuracy and reliability of the narratives included in his work. After personally verifying the information about cities he heard from others through actual journeys, he wrote them in his book. The author not only composed Ṣūrat al-ard based on his own observations but also consulted with other geographers of his time, notably al-Istakhri, to benefit from their experiences and knowledge. He also drew from previously written sources, as well as from the Quran and Hadiths. One of the notable features of his book within the scholarly community is his practice of drawing maps of the regions he provides information about and offering detailed explanations. It is stated that this geography book was prepared taking into consideration the writing method of the Balkh geographical school. The work not only contains information about the lives and cultures of Muslims but also writes valuable narratives shedding light on the histories and traditions of foreign nations. In this regard, the corpus conveyed by Ibn Hawqal regarding the Turks holds great significance. One of the points where the author distinguishes himself from other geographers in his field is breaking away from the tradition of explaining the map commissioned by the Abbasid Caliph al-Maʾmūn in geography books. He deviates from this practice by not allocating any space to this map and instead emphasizing his own observations as the primary source. On the other hand, he endeavors to determine not only the current structure of a settlement in his time but also the past political, economic, and cultural history of the region. The author, touching upon various subjects such as commonly used measures, weights, and currencies in cities, local beliefs, and distinctive features specific to the city, aims to portray the region in all its aspects. There are four fundamental characteristics that make Ṣūrat al-ard valuable: the enrichment of the book with maps and diagrams, its dual nature as both a geography and a travelogue, the detailed explanation not only of the geographical and physical structure but also of the socio-cultural situation of the region under scrutiny, and the authors aspiration to identify perceived inaccuracies in previous geography books and surpass them by conducting a more advanced study.

 Bu makalede İslâm coğrafya yazıcılığının büyük bir ilerleme gösterdiği 10. yüzyılda yaşamış olan ve kaleme aldığı eseriyle ilgili sahada önemli izler bırakan bir Müslüman coğrafya bilgini İbn Havkalin biyografisi, yaşamıyla alakalı süregelen tartışmalar, ilmî etkinlikleri ve Ṣûretül-arż isimli coğrafya kitabının kendi zamanındaki İslâm bölgelerini hangi açılardan tasvir ettiği gibi konular üzerinde yoğunlaşılacaktır. Eserin coğrafî, sosyo-kültürel, ekonomik ve idarî gibi alanlara dair sunduğu bilgilerin genel özellikleri ele alınacak diğer bir konudur. Bunlara ilave olarak İbn Havkalin kitabında nasıl bir yöntem takip ettiği, hangi kaynaklardan faydalandığı, eserini kaleme almaya sevk eden faktörlerin neler olduğu, mensubu olduğu Belh coğrafya okulunun usul ve ilkelerini uygulayıp uygulamadığı, önceki coğrafyacılardan farklı olarak coğrafya yazımına yeni bir metot getirip getiremediği şeklindeki hususlar tespit edilmeye çalışılacaktır. İbn Havkal Nusaybinli olup dönemin ilim merkezleri Bağdat ve Musulda iyi bir eğitim görmüştür. Takip ettiği fikir ve ideolojileri ile ilgili Fâtımî taraftarı olduğu şeklinde bazı iddialar mevcut olsa da henüz kesin bir şekilde tespit edilememiştir. Sadece ilimle iştigal etmemiş, Abbâsîlerin ordusu arasında Bizans seferine katılmıştır. Çocukluk çağlarından itibaren coğrafyaya büyük bir merak duymuştur. Hem ticaret yaparak geçimini sağlamış hem de mesleğini avantaja dönüştürerek başka memleketlerden gelen tüccarlardan o yerlere dair bilgiler toplamıştır. Diğer coğrafya âlimlerinden ayrılarak kitabını, gerçekleştirdiği uzun seyahatler sonuncunda elde ettiği notlarına dayanarak yazmıştır. Yeryüzünü Horasan ve Mâverâünnehirden Endülüse, Anadoludan Arabistanın en uzak noktalarına kadar bölge bölge dolaşmıştır. Hayatının yaklaşık otuz yılını İslâm şehirlerini gezmeye ayıran İbn Havkal eserinde yer verdiği rivayetlerin doğruluk ve güvenirliği bakımından büyük bir titizlik göstermiştir. Başkalarından duyduğu şehirler hakkındaki bilgileri bizâtihi yolculuk yaparak teyit ettikten sonra kitabına kaydetmiştir. Müellif yalnızca gözlemlerine göre Ṣûretül-arżı kaleme almamış, muasırı olan İstahrî başta olmak üzere diğer coğrafya bilginleriyle istişare yaparak onların tecrübe ve bilgilerinden, daha önce yazılmış kaynaklardan ve Kurân-ı Kerîm ile hadislerden de istifade etmiştir. Kitabının ilim dünyası arasında öne çıkan özelliklerinden birisi, hakkında mâlûmat verdiği bölgelerin haritalarını çizmesi ve ayrıntılı açıklamasını yapmasıdır. Bu coğrafya kitabının Belh coğrafya okulunun yazım yöntemi dikkate alınarak hazırlandığı ifade edilmektedir. Eserde sadece Müslümanların yaşam ve kültürlerine dair bilgiler bulunmamakta; yabancı milletlerin geçmişlerine ve geleneklerine de ışık tutan kıymetli rivayetler kaydedilmektedir. Bu açıdan İbn Havkalin Türkler ile ilgili aktardığı müktesebat büyük bir önem arz etmektedir. Müellifin kendi alanında öteki coğrafyacılardan ayrıştığı noktalardan bir diğeri ise coğrafya kitaplarında bizzat Abbâsî Halifesi Memûn tarafından yaptırılan haritanın açıklamasını yapma geleneğini bozarak bu haritaya hiç yer ayırmaması ve temel kaynak olarak kendi gözlemlerini ön plana çıkarmasıdır. Diğer taraftan o, bir yerleşim merkezinin kendi zamanındaki mevcut yapısına ek olarak yörenin geçmişteki politik, ekonomik ve kültürel tarihini de tespit etmeye çalışmaktadır. Şehirlerde yaygın olarak kullanılan ölçü, ağırlık ve para birimleri, kente dair varsa halk inanışları ve oraya has olan özellikler gibi pek çok muhtelif konuya temas eden yazar bölgeyi tüm yönleriyle betimleme hedefini taşımaktadır. Ṣûretül-arżı kıymetli kılan dört temel hususiyet bulunmaktadır: bunlar kitabın harita ve şemalar ile zenginleştirilmesi, hem coğrafya hem de seyahatname türü şeklinde kaleme alınmış olması, incelediği bir bölgenin sadece coğrafî ve fizikî yapısını değil, bilakis sosyo-kültürel durumunu da ayrıntılı olarak açıklaması ve önceki coğrafya kitaplarındaki yanlış olduğunu düşündüğü yerleri fark edip onlardan daha ileri seviyede bir çalışma yapmayı hedeflemesidir.

 This article will explore the biography of Ibn Hawqal, an Islamic geographer who lived in the 10th century, a period in which Islamic geography witnessed significant advancements. The discussion will delve into his life, ongoing debates related to him, his scholarly activities, and an analysis of his notable work, Ṣūrat al-ard, a geography book depicting the Islamic regions during his time from various angels. Furthermore, another topic to be addressed is the general characteristics of the information presented by the work in various areas such as geographical, socio-cultural, economic, and administrative aspects. In this study, an attempt will be made to determine the method followed by Ibn Hawqal in his book, the sources he utilized, the factors that led him to compose his work, whether he applied the principles and methods of the Balkh geographical school to which he belonged, and whether he introduced a new method to geography writing distinct from previous geographers. Ibn Hawqal was originally from Nasibin Nisibis and received a solid education in the prominent centers of knowledge, Baghdad and Mosul, during his time. Although there are some claims regarding the ideologies and beliefs he adhered to, they have not yet been conclusively determined. Not only did he engage in scholarly pursuits, but he also participated in a Byzantine campaign as a member of the states army. From his childhood years onward, he harbored a great curiosity for geography. He not only earned his living through trade but also leveraged his profession to advantage by gathering information about those places from merchants coming from other regions. Distinguishing himself from other geography scholars, he wrote his book based on the notes he obtained through the extensive travels he undertook. He traversed region by region from Khurāsān and Mā Warāʾ al-nahr to al-Andalus, from Anatolia to the farthest points of Arabia, exploring the Earth. Devoting approximately thirty years of his life to exploring Islamic cities, Ibn Hawqal demonstrated great meticulousness regarding the accuracy and reliability of the narratives included in his work. After personally verifying the information about cities he heard from others through actual journeys, he wrote them in his book. The author not only composed Ṣūrat al-ard based on his own observations but also consulted with other geographers of his time, notably al-Istakhri, to benefit from their experiences and knowledge. He also drew from previously written sources, as well as from the Quran and Hadiths. One of the notable features of his book within the scholarly community is his practice of drawing maps of the regions he provides information about and offering detailed explanations. It is stated that this geography book was prepared taking into consideration the writing method of the Balkh geographical school. The work not only contains information about the lives and cultures of Muslims but also writes valuable narratives shedding light on the histories and traditions of foreign nations. In this regard, the corpus conveyed by Ibn Hawqal regarding the Turks holds great significance. One of the points where the author distinguishes himself from other geographers in his field is breaking away from the tradition of explaining the map commissioned by the Abbasid Caliph al-Maʾmūn in geography books. He deviates from this practice by not allocating any space to this map and instead emphasizing his own observations as the primary source. On the other hand, he endeavors to determine not only the current structure of a settlement in his time but also the past political, economic, and cultural history of the region. The author, touching upon various subjects such as commonly used measures, weights, and currencies in cities, local beliefs, and distinctive features specific to the city, aims to portray the region in all its aspects. There are four fundamental characteristics that make Ṣūrat al-ard valuable: the enrichment of the book with maps and diagrams, its dual nature as both a geography and a travelogue, the detailed explanation not only of the geographical and physical structure but also of the socio-cultural situation of the region under scrutiny, and the authors aspiration to identify perceived inaccuracies in previous geography books and surpass them by conducting a more advanced study.

 This article will explore the biography of Ibn Hawqal, an Islamic geographer who lived in the 10th century, a period in which Islamic geography witnessed significant advancements. The discussion will delve into his life, ongoing debates related to him, his scholarly activities, and an analysis of his notable work, Ṣūrat al-ard, a geography book depicting the Islamic regions during his time from various angels. Furthermore, another topic to be addressed is the general characteristics of the information presented by the work in various areas such as geographical, socio-cultural, economic, and administrative aspects. In this study, an attempt will be made to determine the method followed by Ibn Hawqal in his book, the sources he utilized, the factors that led him to compose his work, whether he applied the principles and methods of the Balkh geographical school to which he belonged, and whether he introduced a new method to geography writing distinct from previous geographers. Ibn Hawqal was originally from Nasibin Nisibis and received a solid education in the prominent centers of knowledge, Baghdad and Mosul, during his time. Although there are some claims regarding the ideologies and beliefs he adhered to, they have not yet been conclusively determined. Not only did he engage in scholarly pursuits, but he also participated in a Byzantine campaign as a member of the states army. From his childhood years onward, he harbored a great curiosity for geography. He not only earned his living through trade but also leveraged his profession to advantage by gathering information about those places from merchants coming from other regions. Distinguishing himself from other geography scholars, he wrote his book based on the notes he obtained through the extensive travels he undertook. He traversed region by region from Khurāsān and Mā Warāʾ al-nahr to al-Andalus, from Anatolia to the farthest points of Arabia, exploring the Earth. Devoting approximately thirty years of his life to exploring Islamic cities, Ibn Hawqal demonstrated great meticulousness regarding the accuracy and reliability of the narratives included in his work. After personally verifying the information about cities he heard from others through actual journeys, he wrote them in his book. The author not only composed Ṣūrat al-ard based on his own observations but also consulted with other geographers of his time, notably al-Istakhri, to benefit from their experiences and knowledge. He also drew from previously written sources, as well as from the Quran and Hadiths. One of the notable features of his book within the scholarly community is his practice of drawing maps of the regions he provides information about and offering detailed explanations. It is stated that this geography book was prepared taking into consideration the writing method of the Balkh geographical school. The work not only contains information about the lives and cultures of Muslims but also writes valuable narratives shedding light on the histories and traditions of foreign nations. In this regard, the corpus conveyed by Ibn Hawqal regarding the Turks holds great significance. One of the points where the author distinguishes himself from other geographers in his field is breaking away from the tradition of explaining the map commissioned by the Abbasid Caliph al-Maʾmūn in geography books. He deviates from this practice by not allocating any space to this map and instead emphasizing his own observations as the primary source. On the other hand, he endeavors to determine not only the current structure of a settlement in his time but also the past political, economic, and cultural history of the region. The author, touching upon various subjects such as commonly used measures, weights, and currencies in cities, local beliefs, and distinctive features specific to the city, aims to portray the region in all its aspects. There are four fundamental characteristics that make Ṣūrat al-ard valuable: the enrichment of the book with maps and diagrams, its dual nature as both a geography and a travelogue, the detailed explanation not only of the geographical and physical structure but also of the socio-cultural situation of the region under scrutiny, and the authors aspiration to identify perceived inaccuracies in previous geography books and surpass them by conducting a more advanced study.

Makale detayları

Ibn Hawqal and His Geography Work Entitled Ṣūrat al-arḍ

Yazarlar:

Faruk Korkmaz

Yayıncı:

Hitit University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Tarihi

Dergi:

Hitit İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.23 Issue Din ve Coğrafya, pp.155-174

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

4/2024

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001316463

pISSN:

2757-6949

Islamic History

Ibn Hawqal

Ṣūrat al-arḍ

Geography

Hamadan

Jibāl Regionİslâm Tarihi

İbn Havkal

Ṣûretü’l-arż

Coğrafya

Hemedan

Cibâl Bölgesi

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Faruk Korkmaz

Yayıncı: Hitit University

Ana Başlıklar: İslam Tarihi

Dergi: Hitit İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.23 Issue Din ve Coğrafya, pp.155-174

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 4/2024

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001316463

pISSN: 2757-6949

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Faruk Korkmaz

Yayıncı:

Hitit University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Tarihi

Dergi:

Hitit İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.23 Issue Din ve Coğrafya, pp.155-174

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

4/2024

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001316463

pISSN:

2757-6949