The lands of western sudan according to the book Al ـ Mughrib fi Dhikr Bilad lfriqiya wal ـ maghrib by Abu Ubayd al ـ Bakri (D487AH / 1094 AD )

Abstract

Abu Ubaidah al-Bakri (died 487 AH / 1094 CE) is considered one of the prominent Muslim scholars, known for his extensive knowledge in the fields of language, literature, geography, and history. His works bear witness to this, including Al-Mughrib fi Dhikr Bilad Ifriqiya wal-Maghrib which is part of his book Al-Masalik wal-Mamalik. In this book, he discusses Western Sudan, the desert, its cities, the distances between them, the locations of water sources, the movement of the Almoravids, and their role in spreading Islam in the desert and establishing ribats. He also mentions the unique rulings of Abdullah ibn Yasin regarding governance, which deviated from Islamic law. Al-Bakri also wrote about the cities of Western Sudan, such as Songhay and Tekrur, and their religions, as well as Ghana, covering its political, social, and economic life. He further elaborates on the city of Tadmekka, Kairouan, and the lifestyle of its inhabitants. He highlighted the gold mines in Ghana and their significance, noting that gold was exchanged for salt due to its high value. As for his sources, they were varied; his position in the court and his relationship with ministers granted him access to information, in addition to oral narratives. Among his works is a commentary on A’mali al-Qali, and one of his most notable teachers was Ibn Abd al-Barr al-Hafidh. His writing style was marked by honesty and courage in conveying information, including the accurate mention of dates and places, except in some cases where he had not personally visited those regions.