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- Country of residence: Palestine
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Shams al-Din al-Maqdisi, also known as Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Abi Bakr al-Maqdisi, Al-Bashari, was a Muslim traveler born in Jerusalem in the year 336 AH (947 AD), where he spent his formative years. He embarked on the Hajj pilgrimage twice during his lifetime: first in 356 AH / 966 AD and then again in 367 AH / 977 AD. Initially a professional trader, his extensive travels eventually led him to become a renowned geographical explorer.
His most notable work, "The Best Divisions in the Knowledge of Regions," earned him widespread acclaim. Al-Maqdisi recognized a dearth of geographical descriptions of the Islamic Kingdom in the fourth century AH, prompting him to meticulously document his observations of mountains, seas, lakes, rivers, cities, regions, plants, animals, and more during his travels across Islamic territories.
In "Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Ma’rifat al-Aqīlim," he critiqued the works of his predecessors and relied on firsthand observation, accounts from trustworthy individuals, and information gleaned from categorized books. Al-Maqdisi's writing aimed to capture the essence of each region he explored, earning him the accolade of being described by Springer as the greatest geographer known to humanity.
His travels took him from Jerusalem to the Arabian Peninsula, traversing regions such as Iraq, Aqur, the Levant, Egypt, Morocco, and the Persian territories. Notable for the precision and depth of his observations, as well as his meticulous organization of material, Al-Maqdisi's book covered all facets of geography known at the time, presenting a comprehensive overview of the Islamic world.
Al-Maqdisi's journey concluded around the year 375 AH / 985 AD, during which he completed writing his book in Shiraz, the capital of Fars province, after reaching forty years of age. Renowned for his dedication to obtaining knowledge, he pioneered the concept of colored maps, delineating borders, roads, sands, seas, rivers, and mountains with distinctive hues. His travels spanned the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, the Levant, Egypt, Morocco, Persia, Sindh, and India, culminating in the completion of his seminal work in 375 AH. Al-Maqdisi remains revered for his contributions to the field of geography, earning him unparalleled recognition in his domain.
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