Hitit İlahiyat Dergisi

Öz

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-arḍ, 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 state's 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-arḍ 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-arḍ 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 author's aspiration to identify perceived inaccuracies in previous geography books and surpass them by conducting a more advanced study.