King Abdulaziz Public Library Unveils First English Translation of Ibn Battuta's Travels
The King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has acquired a rare copy of the first English translation of Ibn Battuta's travels, completed by Samuel Lee in 1829.
The King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has revealed its acquisition of a rare copy of the first famous English translation of Ibn Battuta's travels, completed by the British orientalist Samuel Lee in 1829. This translation was based on an abridged Arabic manuscript preserved in the Cambridge University Library, with added scientific, historical, and geographical annotations and footnotes. The significance of this 294-page translation, divided into 25 chapters, lies in its role as an early and pivotal step in introducing European readers to the book "A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling" and the extensive journeys of the Muslim traveler Ibn Battuta across the world.
The King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has unveiled its acquisition of a rare copy of the first printed and famous English translation of Ibn Battuta's travels, dating back 197 years, specifically on April 27, 1829. The British orientalist and linguist Samuel Lee translated Ibn Battuta's well-known book "A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling" into English, relying on abridged manuscript copies preserved in the British Cambridge University Library. Samuel Lee based his work on an abridged Arabic manuscript rather than the full text of the journey, adding a collection of scientific and historical comments about the journey, as well as numerous explanatory footnotes on history, geography, countries, plants, antiquities, archaeological sites, and scientific and historical figures. This translation represented a significant step in introducing the European reader to what the Muslim traveler Ibn Battuta observed during his travels from west to east.
Detailed Translation:
The book translated by Samuel Lee from Arabic: "The Travels of Ibn Battuta: THE TRAVELS OF IBN BATUTA"
comprises 294 pages, with the translator including many pages in Arabic in the preface, especially in the footnotes where he referred to some Arabic books such as: "The Summary of News," "The Great Classes," "Indications in Knowing Visits," "The Evaluation of Countries," "The Unique of the Age," and "The Summary of Verification of Suspicions in Explaining Texts," and "Observatories of Insight into the Names of Places," among other books, as well as a large collection of Arab and Islamic scientific and historical figures, and numerous cities and countries.
The translator included a paragraph at the beginning of his book in Arabic referring to the abridged version, stating: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad and his family and companions. And after, the poor servant of his rich Lord, Muhammad bin Fathallah Al-Baylouni, says this is what I selected from what was summarized by the writer Imam Muhammad bin Juzay Al-Kalbi, may Allah have mercy on him."
Allah from the journey of the jurist Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Lawati Al-Tanji, known as Ibn Battuta." The translator divided this abridged version into a large number of chapters and numbered them with Roman numerals, reaching a total of 25 chapters.
About Ibn Battuta's Book:
The book "A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling" is one of the most famous travel books in history, also known as Ibn Battuta's Travels. It describes Ibn Battuta's journey, discusses its people, rulers, and scholars, and describes clothing in its colors and shapes, as well as foods and their types and methods of preparation. After spending 30 years traveling around the world, Sultan Abu Inan Al-Marini ordered the documentation of this journey and chose an Andalusian jurist who joined the court of the Marinids, Ibn Juzay Al-Kalbi, to dictate it in the city of Fez in 756 AH.
Ibn Battuta is: Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Lawati Al-Tanji, Abu Abdullah, Ibn Battuta: (703 AH / 1304 AD – 770 AH / 1369 AD) a traveler and historian. His travels were the reason for his fame, and the Cambridge Society dubbed him the Prince of Muslim Travelers. He began his travels at the age of 21 and traveled three times, visiting North and East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, the Near East, Andalusia, and West Africa.
It is noteworthy that the book has been translated into various world languages, including Swedish, Portuguese, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, and German.