A man reads a book at the National Library of Morocco, Rabat, Nov. 4, 2011. Photo by Abdelhak Senna/AFP/Getty Images
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Al-Monitor (February 17, 2014) — The National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco is tracing the journey of the great scholars of the medieval Muslim world through a collection of works never before exhibited.
The national library is filled with priceless treasures, as it is proving once again. On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the library is presenting a series of unpublished documents recounting the journey of nine great scholars and globetrotters of Islam.
The exhibition, “Geographers and Travelers of the Muslim Maghreb World from the 12th Century to the 17 Century,” brings together books, manuscripts, prints and lithographs describing the journeys of famous explorers such as Abu Salem al-Ayyaichi, Hassan al-Wazzan (the famous Leo Africanus), Ibn Jubayr and Ibn Battuta.
“All of these books are rare. They are not unique, but there are only a few copies around the world,” said Naima Keddane, head of the monograph department and curator of the library’s collections. These authentic historical gems were inherited from the previous library, the General Library of Archives, which was created in 1924. It is difficult to learn more about how these books were passed on. How they landed on the shelves of the library remains a mystery.
“What really matters now, since they are in our hands, is showing their value to the public and the possibility that researchers can consult them,” Keddane said.
Valuable testimony
Among the masterpieces of this exhibition is a manuscript entitled al-Rihlah al-Maghribiyyah, written in 1289. It recounts the pilgrimage of al-Abdari, a traveler born in the Haha tribe in the Essaouira region, to Mecca. The exhibition also contains an 1898 lithograph of the work of Hajji Abu Salim al-Ayyashi, a theologian [and travel writer] from the Middle Atlas region [who lived from 1628-1679]. “In both cases, it consists of a rihla hijagiya, a travelogue mainly focused on spirituality and religion,” said Keddane.
“The rihla is a literary genre divided into several categories. For instance, the work of Ibn Battuta is much more focused on geographical and ethnological observations. His pilgrimage was an opportunity to go further and meet different cultures and customs.”
Another gem concerns the renowned Ibn Khaldun, namely, al-Rihla, Gharbân wa Sharqan (The West and East Trip), a book written in the 20th century by Mohamed Ibn Taouit Ettanji, who describes and discusses the wanderings of the scholar [who lived from 1332-1406].
“This is something new. Ibn Khaldun was better known as a historian or precursor in sociology than as an explorer,” said Keddane.
Finally, the library is exhibiting a particularly valuable Cosmographia of Africa manuscript by Hassan al-Wazzan (Leo Africanus), dating to 1556. It remains “the only source of information on the life, manners and customs of Africa of the 16th century.”
A long-term undertaking
The library includes many rich publications that required hard work. Indeed, the rarity of a book can only be proved after long research and if it meets several criteria. For example, one should check whether the document exists in other libraries around the world, estimate the intellectual value of the document, evaluate its circulation and be certain of its age.
“These conditions vary by country. For example, printed works from the 19th century are not necessarily considered rare in Europe since the printing press appeared in the 17th century, while the opposite is true in Morocco, where printing presses appeared in 1865,” explained Keddane. … The library also has unique documents concerning the history of Algeria and Tunisia.
The exhibition continues until Feb. 15 at the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco, in Rabat.
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