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A look in the life of somali king abu bakr bin umar in Mogadishu in the year 1331 a detailed report on him and on how he governed medieval islamic somalia, first hand report by ibn battuta 1304 – 1368, in his book al-rihla
#somalia #mogadishu #somali
A look in the life of somali king abu bakr bin umar in Mogadishu in the year 1331 a detailed report on him and on how he governed medieval islamic somalia, first hand report by ibn battuta 1304 – 1368, in his book al-rihla
#somalia #mogadishu #somali
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CONCERNING THE SULTAN OF MOGADISHU
As we have said, the Sultan of Mogadishu is called Shaikh by his subjects. His name is Abu Bakr ibn Shaikh Omar, and by race he is a Berber.( somali ) (huwa fi'l-asl min al-Barbara). He talks in the language of Mogadishu but knows Arabic
CONCERNING THE SULTAN OF MOGADISHU
As we have said, the Sultan of Mogadishu is called Shaikh by his subjects. His name is Abu Bakr ibn Shaikh Omar, and by race he is a Berber.( somali ) (huwa fi'l-asl min al-Barbara). He talks in the language of Mogadishu but knows Arabic
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When a ship arrives, it is the custom for it to be boarded by the Sultan's sanbuq, to inquire where it came from, who are the owners and who its captain. They also inquire the nature of the cargo and what merchants and other persons on board. All this is told to the sultan,
When a ship arrives, it is the custom for it to be boarded by the Sultan's sanbuq, to inquire where it came from, who are the owners and who its captain. They also inquire the nature of the cargo and what merchants and other persons on board. All this is told to the sultan,
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who invites as his guest anyone worthy of such honor.
When I arrived at the palace with the Qadi, whose name was Ibn Burhan al-Misri(meaning from Egypt), a eunuch came out and greeted him.
who invites as his guest anyone worthy of such honor.
When I arrived at the palace with the Qadi, whose name was Ibn Burhan al-Misri(meaning from Egypt), a eunuch came out and greeted him.
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The Qadi said: Go and do your duty, and inform our master the Shaikh that this man has arrived from the Hijaz. He delivered his message and returned with a plate containing betel leaves and areca nuts. He gave me six leaves of betel and some nuts,
The Qadi said: Go and do your duty, and inform our master the Shaikh that this man has arrived from the Hijaz. He delivered his message and returned with a plate containing betel leaves and areca nuts. He gave me six leaves of betel and some nuts,
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and the same amount to the Qadi: the rest he divided among my companions. Then he brought a sprinkler that contained Damascus rose water, and sprinkled some on me and on the Qadi, and said: Our master orders that he be lodged in the house reserved for Islamic students.
and the same amount to the Qadi: the rest he divided among my companions. Then he brought a sprinkler that contained Damascus rose water, and sprinkled some on me and on the Qadi, and said: Our master orders that he be lodged in the house reserved for Islamic students.
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The Qadi took me by the hand, and we went to this house, which is near that of the Shaikh. It was decorated with carpets and contained everything needful. Later the same eunuch brought us food from the Shaikh's house.
The Qadi took me by the hand, and we went to this house, which is near that of the Shaikh. It was decorated with carpets and contained everything needful. Later the same eunuch brought us food from the Shaikh's house.
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He was accompanied by one of the wazirs, whose particular duty it was to look after guests. he said to us: Our master greets you and bids you welcome. After this the meal was served and we ate.
He was accompanied by one of the wazirs, whose particular duty it was to look after guests. he said to us: Our master greets you and bids you welcome. After this the meal was served and we ate.
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food of these people is rice topped with butter and a sauce containing meat, chicken, fish and vegetables served on a large wooden dish. pickled lemon, bunches of pickled chilies with vinegar and salt, green ginger, and mangoes which look like apples but have a nut inside.
food of these people is rice topped with butter and a sauce containing meat, chicken, fish and vegetables served on a large wooden dish. pickled lemon, bunches of pickled chilies with vinegar and salt, green ginger, and mangoes which look like apples but have a nut inside.
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Ripe mangoes are very sweet and are eaten like fruit, but unripe mangoes are as acid as lemons, and are cooked in vinegar. When the Mogadishu people have taken a mouthful of rice, they take some of these pickles. One of them eats as much as a whole group from Arabia,
Ripe mangoes are very sweet and are eaten like fruit, but unripe mangoes are as acid as lemons, and are cooked in vinegar. When the Mogadishu people have taken a mouthful of rice, they take some of these pickles. One of them eats as much as a whole group from Arabia,
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they were extremely large and fat of body. When we had eaten, the Qadi went away. We stayed there for three days food being brought to us three times a day, as is their custom. And on the fourth, a Friday, the Qadi and one of the wazirs brought me a set of garments
they were extremely large and fat of body. When we had eaten, the Qadi went away. We stayed there for three days food being brought to us three times a day, as is their custom. And on the fourth, a Friday, the Qadi and one of the wazirs brought me a set of garments
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The clothing consisted of a silk wrapper an upper garment of Egyptian linen with markings, a lined gown of Jerusalem material, and an Egyptian turban with embroideries. They also brought my companions clothes suitable to their rank.
The clothing consisted of a silk wrapper an upper garment of Egyptian linen with markings, a lined gown of Jerusalem material, and an Egyptian turban with embroideries. They also brought my companions clothes suitable to their rank.
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We then went to the Friday mosque and prayed behind the sultans screen (maqsurah). When the Shaykh came out I greeted him and he bade me welcome. He talked to the qadi in the local language, and then said to me in Arabic: You are welcome, you have honored our country.
We then went to the Friday mosque and prayed behind the sultans screen (maqsurah). When the Shaykh came out I greeted him and he bade me welcome. He talked to the qadi in the local language, and then said to me in Arabic: You are welcome, you have honored our country.
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by coming and having rejoiced us. He went out into the courtyard of the mosque and stopped at the tomb of his father. He recited a passage of the Koran and prayed.
by coming and having rejoiced us. He went out into the courtyard of the mosque and stopped at the tomb of his father. He recited a passage of the Koran and prayed.
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Then came the wazirs, the amirs and military commanders and greeted him. In doing this they observed the same customs as are followed in Yemen. The man who gives his greeting places his forefinger on the ground, and then on his head, and says: May God prolong your might.
Then came the wazirs, the amirs and military commanders and greeted him. In doing this they observed the same customs as are followed in Yemen. The man who gives his greeting places his forefinger on the ground, and then on his head, and says: May God prolong your might.
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After that the Shaikh went out of the door of the mosque and puts his sandals on ordering the qadi and myself to do the same, and set out for his palace on foot. All the other people walked barefoot.
After that the Shaikh went out of the door of the mosque and puts his sandals on ordering the qadi and myself to do the same, and set out for his palace on foot. All the other people walked barefoot.
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The sultan wore a sweeping cloak of green Jerusalem material over clothes of Egyptian linen. He had a silk girdle and a large turban In front of him they beat drums and played trumpets and oboes. He was preceded by the amirs of the army, the Qadi, the lawyers & the Sharifs
The sultan wore a sweeping cloak of green Jerusalem material over clothes of Egyptian linen. He had a silk girdle and a large turban In front of him they beat drums and played trumpets and oboes. He was preceded by the amirs of the army, the Qadi, the lawyers & the Sharifs
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With this ceremony he entered his audience hall. The wazirs, amirs and military commanders took their places on a bench set for them. A special carpet was spread for the Qadi on which he sad alone. He was accompanied by the lawyers and the Sharifs
With this ceremony he entered his audience hall. The wazirs, amirs and military commanders took their places on a bench set for them. A special carpet was spread for the Qadi on which he sad alone. He was accompanied by the lawyers and the Sharifs
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There they all remained until the afternoon prayer, which they said together with the Shaikh. Then all the soldiers were drown up in lines according to their rank, and the drums, oboes, trumpets, and flutes played. While they played, everyone stayed in one place,
There they all remained until the afternoon prayer, which they said together with the Shaikh. Then all the soldiers were drown up in lines according to their rank, and the drums, oboes, trumpets, and flutes played. While they played, everyone stayed in one place,
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When the band stopped playing, those present greeted the Shaikh with their fingers in the manner we have described and then went away. This is their custom every Friday.
When the band stopped playing, those present greeted the Shaikh with their fingers in the manner we have described and then went away. This is their custom every Friday.
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On Saturday the people come to the door of the Shaikh's house and sit on the bench outside. The Qadi, the lawyers or faqihs, the Sharifs, the imams, the shaikhs and the hadji enter an outer room and sit on wooden benches arranged for that purpose.
On Saturday the people come to the door of the Shaikh's house and sit on the bench outside. The Qadi, the lawyers or faqihs, the Sharifs, the imams, the shaikhs and the hadji enter an outer room and sit on wooden benches arranged for that purpose.
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The Qadi sits on his bench alone, and each of these classes of people have their own bench, which is not shared by any other.
The Qadi sits on his bench alone, and each of these classes of people have their own bench, which is not shared by any other.
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The Shaikh then takes his place in the hall of audience, and sends for the Qadi. He takes his place on the Shaikh's left, and then the lawyers come in, and the chief of them sit in front of the Shaikh. The others then greet the Shaikh and go back again.
The Shaikh then takes his place in the hall of audience, and sends for the Qadi. He takes his place on the Shaikh's left, and then the lawyers come in, and the chief of them sit in front of the Shaikh. The others then greet the Shaikh and go back again.
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Then the Sharifs enter, and the eldest of them sits before him: the others greet him and go back outside, But if they are guests of the Shaikh, they sit on his right hand. The same ceremonial is observed by persons of position and pilgrims,
Then the Sharifs enter, and the eldest of them sits before him: the others greet him and go back outside, But if they are guests of the Shaikh, they sit on his right hand. The same ceremonial is observed by persons of position and pilgrims,
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and then by the wazirs, the amirs and the military commanders, each rank by itself.
Then food is brought, and the Qadi, the Sharifs and those who are in the audience chamber eat in the presence of the Shaikh, and he with them. If he wishes to honor one of the chief amirs,
and then by the wazirs, the amirs and the military commanders, each rank by itself.
Then food is brought, and the Qadi, the Sharifs and those who are in the audience chamber eat in the presence of the Shaikh, and he with them. If he wishes to honor one of the chief amirs,
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he sends for him and has him eat with them. The rest eat in the refectory. There they observe the same precedence as that of their entering the Shaikh's audience chamber.
After this the court session begins. The Shaikh retires to his private apartments,
he sends for him and has him eat with them. The rest eat in the refectory. There they observe the same precedence as that of their entering the Shaikh's audience chamber.
After this the court session begins. The Shaikh retires to his private apartments,
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and the Qadi hears cases involving the sharia (religious law) while the council of ministers (wazirs and amirs) hear civil cases. When the sultan's opinion is required, the court sent a written request and he replies by writing on the back of the note and returning it.
and the Qadi hears cases involving the sharia (religious law) while the council of ministers (wazirs and amirs) hear civil cases. When the sultan's opinion is required, the court sent a written request and he replies by writing on the back of the note and returning it.
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This is an eyewitness report by ibn battuta and it shows how the somali sultan governed his state and how he treated his guests of honor. It shows that somalia was fully governed by islamic law under the shafi jurisprudence, and had a good functioning army & navy !
This is an eyewitness report by ibn battuta and it shows how the somali sultan governed his state and how he treated his guests of honor. It shows that somalia was fully governed by islamic law under the shafi jurisprudence, and had a good functioning army & navy !
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