Ibn al-Nadim

Ibn an-Nadīm
Born	~320 H (~932 CE) Baghdad,Abbasid Caliphate
Died	~385 H (~995 CE) Baghdad,Abbasid Caliphate
Notable work	Kitāb al-Fihrist
Era	Medieval period (Later Abbasid era)
School	Aristotelianism
Main interests	History,Arabic literature
Personal
Religion	Islam
Denomination	Shia
Creed	Mu'tazila
Occupation	Bibliographer, Historian

Abū al-Faraj Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq an-Nadīm(Arabic:ابو الفرج محمد بن إسحاق النديم), alsoIbn Abī Yaʿqūb Isḥāq ibn Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq al-Warrāq,and commonly known by thenasab(patronymic)Ibn an-Nadīm(Arabic:ابن النديم;died 17 September 995 or 998), was an importantMuslimbibliographerandbiographerofBaghdadwho compiled the encyclopediaKitāb al-Fihrist(The Book Catalogue).

Biography

Much known of an-Nadim is deduced from his epithets. 'an-Nadim' (النَّدِيم), 'the Court Companion' and 'al-Warrāq (الْوَرَّاق) 'the copyist of manuscripts'. Probably born inBaghdadca. 320/932 he died there on Wednesday, 20th of Shaʿban A.H. 385. He was a Persian or perhaps an Arab. Little is known about Ibn an-Nadīm's life. Some historians say that he was of Persian descent, but this is not certain. However, the choice of the rarely used Persian word pehrest (fehrest/fehres/fahrasat) meaning "The List" as the title for a handbook on Arabic literature is noteworthy in this context.

From age six, he may have attended amadrasaand received comprehensive education in Islamic studies, history, geography, comparative religion, the sciences, grammar, rhetoric andQurʾanic commentary.Ibrahim al-Abyari,author ofTurāth al-Insaniyahsays an-Nadim studied withal-Hasan ibn Sawwar,a logician and translator of science books; Yunus al-Qass, translator of classical mathematical texts; and Abu al-Hasan Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Naqit, scholar inGreek science. An inscription, in an early copy of al-Fihrist, probably by the historianal-Maqrizi,relates that an-Nadim was a pupil of the jurist Abu Sa'idal-Sirafi(d.978/9), the poetAbu al-Faraj al-Isfahani,and the historian Abu Abdullah al-Marzubani and others. Al-Maqrizi's phrase 'but no one quoted him', would imply an-Nadim himself did not teach.While attending lectures of some of the leading scholars of the tenth century, he served an apprenticeship in his father's profession, the book trade. His father, a bookdealer and owner of a prosperous bookstore, commissioned an-Nadim to buy manuscripts from dealers. an-Nadim, with the other calligrapher scribes employed, would then copy these for the customers. The bookshop, customarily on an upper floor, would have been a popular hangout for intellectuals.

He probably visited the intellectual centers atBasraandKufain search of scholarly material. He may have visitedAleppo,a center of literature and culture under the rule ofSayf al-Dawla.In a library inMosulhe found a fragment of a book byEuclidand works of poetry. an-Nadim may have served as 'Court Companion' toNasir al-Dawla,aHamdanidruler of Mosul who promoted learning.His family were highly educated and he, or his ancestor, may have been a 'member of the Round Table of the prince'. TheBuyidcaliph'Adud al-Dawla(r. 356–367 H), was the great friend of arts and sciences, loved poets and scholars, gave them salaries, and founded a significant library.More probably service at the court ofMu'izz al-Dawla,and later his sonIzz al-Dawlah's, in Baghdad, earned him the title. He mentions meeting someone inDar al-Rumin 988, about the period of the book's compilation.However, it is probable that, here, 'Dar al-Rum' refers to the Greek Orthodox sector of Baghdad rather thanConstantinople.

Others among his wide circle of elites wereAli ibn Harun ibn al-Munajjim(d. 963), of theBanu Munajjimand the Christian philosopherIbn al-Khammar.He admiredAbu Sulayman Sijistani,son of Ali bin Isa the "Good Vizier" of theBanu al-Jarrah,for his knowledge of philosophy, logic and the Greek, Persian and Indian sciences, especiallyAristotle.The physicianIbn Abi Usaibia(d. 1273), mentions an-Nadim thirteen times and calls him a writer, or perhaps a government secretary.an-Nadim'skunya'Abu al-Faraj' indicates he was married with at least one son.

In 987, Ibn an-Nadim began compilingal-Fihrist(The Catalogue), as a useful reference index for customers and traders of books. Over a long period he noted thousands of authors, their biographical data, and works, gathered from his regular visits to private book collectors and libraries across the region - including Mosul and Damascus - and through active participation in the lively literary scene of Baghdad in the period.

Religion

Ishaq an-Nadim's broad discussions of religions and religious sects in his writings and the subtleties of his descriptions and terminologies raised questions as to his own religious beliefs and affiliations. It seemsIbn Hajar's claim that an-Nadim wasShiʿah,was based on his use of the termspecific people(الخاصة) for theShiʿah,general people(العامة) for non-Shiʿahs, and of the pejorative termḤashawīyya(الحشوية),forSunnis.Reinforcing this suspicion are references to theHanbalischool asAhl al-Hadith( "People of theHadith"), and notAhl al-Sunna( "People of the Tradition" ), use of thesupplicationofpeace be upon him(عليه السلام) after the names of theAhl al-Bayt(Descendants ofMuhammad) and reference to the Shia imamAli ar-Ridaasmawlana(master). He alleges thatal-Waqidiconcealed being a Shiʿah bytaqiyya(dissimulation) and that most of the traditionalists wereZaydis.Ibn Hajar also claimed an-Nadim was aMuʿtazila.The sect is discussed in chapter five ofAl-Fihristwhere they are called thePeople of Justice(أهل العدل). an-Nadim calls theAsh'aritesal-Mujbira,and harshly criticises theSab'iyyadoctrine and history. An allusion to a certainShafi'ischolar as a 'secret Twelver', is said to indicate his possibleTwelveraffiliation. Within his circle were the theologianAl-Mufid,theda'iIbn Hamdan,the authorKhushkunanadh,and theJacobitephilosopherYahya ibn 'Adi(d. 363/973) preceptor toIsa bin Aliand a fellow copyist and bookseller (p. t64, 8). Another unsubstantiated claim that an-Nadim wasIsma'ili,rests on his meeting with an Isma'ili leader.

Al-Fihrist

Main article:Al-Fihrist

TheKitāb al-Fihrist(Arabic:كتاب الفهرست) is a compendium of the knowledge and literature of tenth-century Islam referencing approx. 10,000 books and 2,000 authors.This crucial source of medievalArabic-Islamic literature, informed by various ancient Hellenic and Roman civilizations, preserves from his own hand the names of authors, books and accounts otherwise entirely lost.Al-Fihristis evidence of an-Nadim's thirst for knowledge among the exciting sophisticated milieu of Baghdad's intellectual elite. As a record of civilisation transmitted through Muslim culture to the West world, it provides unique classical material and links to other civilisations.

See also

• Al-Shaykh Al-Mufid

Sources

• Dodge, Bayard,ed. (1970),The Fihrist of al-Nadīm: A Tenth-Century Survey of Islamic Culture,vol. 2, translated by Dodge, New York: Columbia University Press[complete English translation].
• Fück,Johann Wilhelm.Eine arabische Literaturgeschichte aus dem 10. Jahrhundert n. Chr.
• Fück, J.W. (1971)."Ibn al-Nadīm".InLewis, B.;Ménage, V. L.;Pellat, Ch.&Schacht, J.(eds.).The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition.Volume III:H–Iram.Leiden: E. J. Brill.OCLC495469525.
• ibid.,Die arabischen Studien in Europa bis in den Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts.,vol. viii, Leipzig, p. 335
• Goldziher,Ignác,Beiträge zur Erklärung des Kitâb al-Fihrist
• Gray, Louis Herbert(1915). "Iranian material in the Fihrist".Le Muséon.33:24–39.
• Nadīm (al-), Abū al-Faraj Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq Abū Ya'qūb al-Warrāq (1871),Flügel,Gustav (ed.),Kitab al-Fihrist,Leipzig:Vogel
• Nallino, Carlo Alfonso.Ilm al-falak: Tarikhuhu ind al-Arab fi al-qurun al-wusta (Astronomy: the history of Arabic Writers of the Middle Ages).
• Nicholson, Reynold A(1907),A Literary History of the Arabs,Cambridge: T.F. Unwin,ISBN9781465510228
• Ritter,Hellmut (1928),"Zur Überlieferung des Fihrist",Philologika I(Der Islam 17 ed.): 15–23