مجلة جامعة الأنبار للعلوم الإنسانية (Sep 2024)
Urban Aspects in the Book of Al-Matali' Al-Badriya Fi Al-Manazil Al-Rumiyya by Badr Al-Din Al-Ghazzi (d. 984 AH/1577 AD)
Abstract
Objectives: The research aimed to introduce Badr Al-Din Al-Ghazzi (d. 984 AH/1577 AD), and to reveal the urban aspects mentioned in his book "Al-Matali' Al-Badriya Fi Al-Manazil Al-Rumiyya", during his journey from Damascus to Constantinople, which took four years, between the years (936-940 AH/1530-1533 AD).Method: The investigative approach was used to collect information, then verify its accuracy, refine it, and analyze the research results, an analysis characterized by objectivity. The descriptive approach was also used; in order to describe the urban features of cities and urban units, and compare them with what was mentioned in the country and historical sources and references. The research dealt with urban aspects according to their importance and functions; It refers to the basic urban units that comprise the Arab Islamic city, which are: cities, mosques, hospitals, endowment buildings, bridges and arches, castles and forts.Results: The research revealed Sheikh Badr al-Din al-Ghazzi's interest in many sciences and knowledge, including jurisprudence, hadith, principles, interpretation, grammar, poetry, prose and Sufism, until his writings reached more than one hundred, between books and letters, and it became clear that he belongs to a Sufi scholarly Shafi'i family, as his father and grandfathers were jurists, and his sons, grandchildren and their grandchildren were also jurists, and in writing this book he followed the style of rhyme, coupled with poetry, which is a style that requires extensive knowledge of the sciences of the Arabic language and its literature, and although he was not a traveler or geographer, his book is considered one of the books of the countries with a historical literary character. The book Al-Matali' al-Badriya included extremely important information about several urban aspects that were not mentioned by other sources; Because no books were written at his time that dealt with the urban aspects he mentioned, this contributed to filling some gaps in the history of Islamic civilization. It became clear that urban landmarks such as forts and castles played a major role in historical events, due to their distinguished geographical location on transportation routes, securing the movement of the Islamic army, monitoring the movements of the enemy, and obstructing its progress. The information contained in this book was characterized by brevity and accuracy, because the author saw it with his own eyes, in addition to being one of the trustworthy scholars.Recommendations: The researcher recommends conducting similar academic studies on literature and travel books, through which the urban aspects that Muslim scholars were interested in are highlighted. And searching for manuscripts that dealt with urban activity, verifying them, and publishing them, in order to support Arab, Islamic, and international libraries with this bright side of Arab and Islamic civilization
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