Al-Masudi

Abu al -Hasan Ali ibn al -Husayn al - Mas ʿ udi (Arabic أبو الحسن علي بن الحسين المسعودي, DMG Abu 'l- Ḥasan ʿ Alī b al -Husayn al - Mas ʿ udi, . * 895 in Baghdad, † September 957 in Fustat ) was an important Arabian philosopher, geographer and historian.

Life

Al- Mas ʿ udi came from a distinguished family of Kufa, the ūd their lineage to ʿ Abd Allāh ibn Mas ʿ, a companion of the Prophet Mohammed led back. From a young age he traveled extensively in many parts of Asia, probably to China and India. After he temporarily lived in Antioch and Damascus, he finally moved to Fustat ( Old Cairo ) and began writing down his experiences.

Al- Mas ʿ udi probably written 36 literary works. This can be reconstructed from the two only surviving books, where it is the Kitaab at- Tanbīh wa - 'l- ischrāf and Murūdsch adh dhahab wa -ma ʿ Adin al - Jawhar ( مروج الذهب ومعادن الجوهر /, The Gold meadows and gemstone mines ') is. The latter work is a historiographic work, consists of five volumes and was last edited scientifically by Charles Pellat. It begins with the creation of the world and ends in the reign of the Caliph al - Muti. Al- Mas ʿ udi is dedicated to various topics of geography, religion, philosophy, history and politics. Its detailed information - he reported the first example of windmills - about life in the individual countries at that time are now a valuable source of information.

Mas ʿ udi is all in the literary tradition of al - Jahiz ' and embodies this type of Adib, an educated, well-read man with courtly manners, who is also a good company. In addition, he often expresses his admiration for the historical works of al-Tabari and al- Dinawari.

As you can see from his name, he was probably a follower of the Shia. He also shows in his works very sympathetic to the 12er Shia. But he was equally influenced by the views of the Mu ʿ tazila who had great influence in the 10th century.