Ali ibn munqidh alkinani 1 also usamah, ousama, etc arabic. His most famous work, the book of contemplation, survives as a rare look into the holy land during the crusades from a muslim perspective. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidh s book of contemplation. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a muchpraised diwan, but specialising in topical anthologies of poetry and prose like the book. This paper discusses usama ibn munqidh s image of the crusaders. Ibn munqidh was born on 4 july 1095 at his familys castle at shayzar. There are no comparable sources for the first period of the kingdom in the twelfth. Doc usama ibn munqidhs image of the crusaders adnan. Islam and the crusades has 1 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace.
The book of contemplation islam and the crusades 1st. The presentation of the franks in selected muslim sources from the crusades of the 12th century. Usama, the middle east, and the crusades essay the. Usama was a syrian poet, diplomat and physician from the 12th century. His most remarkable work is the book of contemplation. The book of contemplation, islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidh. Usama ibn munqidh 10951188 was a syrian poet and warrior whose life coincided with some of the most dramatic moments in islamic history. Contemplation of the passing of what had once been was also something of a subgenre in arabic literature, from the belleslettrist aljahiz d. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidh s book of contemplationbut also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of islamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious european invaders. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Book of contemplation essay usama ibn munqidh s book of contemplation, is a compilation of events from the life of the author.
The major legal treatises of the kingdom of jerusalem all date from the thirteenth century, after the kingdom had largely been reconquered by its muslim neighbours. The book reads like a series of musings or lifes lessons from the time period. Munqidh fought as a chivalric mercenary for assorted masters, often under familial or feudal. Usamas book of contemplation, then, is a meditation upon the basic fact that god works in mysterious ways. Unlike his other works, the book of contemplation includes only scant. Of these, the most useful source is usama ibn munqidh, whose. Usama ibn munqidh was born on 4 july, 1095 in northern syria. Usama ibnmunqidh arabsyrian warrior, author, and diplomat. The crusades extended and defined the bounds of catholic christendom. The book of contemplation, islam and the crusades ebook by. The book of contemplation, the 12th century memoir of the noble and poet. As we fought, we withdrew before them, and they did not renew their pursuit. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidhs book of contemplation but also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of islamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious european invaders. Book of learning by example or book of contemplation, which contains lengthy descriptions of the crusaders, whom he interacted with on many occasions, and some of whom he considered friends.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the book of contemplation. Islam and the crusades penguin classics 97801404557. Reflections on medieval sources toronto, university of toronto, 2012, d. The book of contemplation, the 12th century memoir of the noble and poet usama ibn munqidh, conveys the texture of an age. Usama ibn munqidh, the author of our texts, was born at his familys castle at shayzar in. Usama ibn munqidh 10951188 was born in northern syria. Zengi was determined to conquer damascus, so usama and unur turned to. Born in the same year that the first crusade was preached at the council of clermont, usama was of the. Read download the book of contemplation pdf pdf download. Usama ibn munqidh interesting stories about famous. Until recently, it was available in english only in a stiff and unwieldy translation from the 1920s.
Usama ibn munqidh was a 12th century syrian noble b. Murshid was his father, ali his grandfather, and munqidh his greatgrandfather. Usamah ibn munqidh also wrote poetry collections and historical tales, including the book of the staff and the book of camps and dwellings. Zengi was determined to conquer damascus, so usama and unur turned to the. Islam and the crusades ebook written by usama ibn munqidh. When considering the relations between the crusader states and the neighboring lands of syria and egypt in the twelfth century, no source is as valuable as the the book of contemplation written by the syrian aristocrat and courtier usama ibn munqidh.
The book is valuable both as a work of literature and as an important historical source dealing with life in medieval arabic countries. Islam and the crusades penguin classics 97801404557 by ibn munqidh, usama and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a muchpraised diwan, but specialising in topical anthologies of poetry and prose like the book of. The meaning of surah 75 alqiyamah the resurrection from holy quran. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a muchpraised diwan, but specialising in topical anthologies of poetry and prose like the book of the staff or kernels of refinement. It is not an easy book to read, but it is entertaining in many respects. In modern times, he is remembered more for his kitab alitibar book of learning by example or book of contemplation, which contains lengthy descriptions of the crusaders, whom he interacted with on many occasions, and some of whom he considered friends. Later in his mobile life he was both intrigued and exasperated by the crusaders, by then an occupying, colonial power in the eastern mediterranean, whom he called franks.
Pdf the book of contemplation download full pdf book. Usamah ibnmunqidh article about usamah ibnmunqidh by. Usama ibn munqidh was a muslim faris or cavalier from northern syria who experienced and wrote a great deal during the crusades. The work highlights some of the attitudes and prejudices of the arabic literati towards the franks, who had occupied the holy land since 1099 ce. The crusades as seen through the eyes of muslims a significant contribution to the understanding of the medieval holy wars between. When the aged warrior poet, usama ibn munqidh of shaizar in syria, reflected on his life, he must have thought it an eventful one. A meticulous and systematic study of these writings forms the core of this book. Ibn munqidh, usama author, cobb, paul m translator publisher. Usamah ibn munqidh traveled in syria, egypt, palestine, and mesopotamia. July 4, 1095 november 17, 1188 2 was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris professional warrior, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of. Usama ibn munqidh article about usama ibn munqidh by the. Pdf usama ibn munqidh and crusader law in the twelfth century.
The circle of contemplation generated a mystical theology that differs radically from mainstream kabbalistic theosophy. In this article, i will be focusing on usama ibn munqidh s memoir kitab alitibar the book of contemplation and his depiction of warfare in it based on his experiences. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers all about the book of contemplation. This edition focuses on the book of contemplation, but also uses extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement to produce a complete and human portrayal of islamic perspectives on a daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious european invaders. Book of contemplation essay book of contemplation essay. A favorite of scholars and students alike, usama ibn munqidh 10951188 is. An arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. Books the syrian noble and poet usama ibn munqidh chronicled the. He was the author of instruction by examples published in leiden in 1884, an autobiographical chronicle telling of the life of the arabs in the 12th century and of relations between the arabs and the crusaders. He praises in others the related virtue of engaging in jihad, meaning in this. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidh s book of contemplation but also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of islamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious european invaders. The selection from usama ibn munqidh s kitab alltibar otherwise know in english as the book of contemplation is a book in which usama provides a series of short vignettes as a testimony to his experiences in the medieval middle east and the crusades. Pdf usama ibn munqidh and crusader law in the twelfth.
Islam and the crusades penguin classics usama ibn munqidh the crusades as seen through the eyes of muslims a significant contribution to the understanding of the medieval holy wars between christians and muslims, this volume brings together the best and most complete eyewitness account of the crusades from the. Usamah ibn munqidh project gutenberg selfpublishing. Usamah ibn munqidh s book of learning by example, in jason glenn ed, the middle ages in texts and texture. In many ways, the franks are much less clearly defined as an enemy for ibn alathir, and this is reflected in the fact that he usually refers to them simply as alfaranj, rather than the enemy. Get your copy of my new book, why does the heathen rage. Usamah ibn munqidh project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Hitti skip to main content this banner text can have markup. Munqidh came from syria at the turn of the 11th12th centuries, just as the first crusade, another coalition force, was mooted.
1039 1322 1505 1368 1169 680 1150 942 1204 1155 712 153 1347 992 828 749 1482 812 446 1289 790 716 539 965 877 1046 807 384 746 641 578 530 113 282 811 12 1176 973 1325 166 612 1218 660 542 1093 278