Who is Abu al-Abbas al-Qalqashandi?
Shahab al-Din Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Ahmad al-Qalqashandi, popularly known as Abu al-Abbas al-Qalqashandi, was born in 756 AH (1355 AD) in the village of Qalqashanda, located in the Qalyubia Governorate of Egypt. He is recognized as one of the most prominent Arab historians, revered for his eloquence in writing, literature, rhetoric, and Shafi’i jurisprudence, skills honed through his studies in Alexandria and Cairo.
In 791 AH, he caught the attention of the royal court during the reign of Sultan al-Zahir Barquq, which led to his appointment in the Diwan al-Insha’ (Office of Correspondence). He continued in this role until 801 AH, the year marking the end of al-Zahir Barquq’s reign. Although he withdrew from any public office thereafter, he maintained a significant status within the royal court until his passing in 821 AH.
Subh al-A’sha by Abu al-Abbas al-Qalqashandi
At the beginning of the 9th century AH, Abu al-Abbas al-Qalqashandi conceived the idea of writing a comprehensive encyclopedia, titled “Subh al-A’sha fi Sina’at al-Insha” (The Dawn of the Sleepless in the Art of Composition). He commenced work on it in 805 AH and completed it by 814 AH. The primary aim of this work was to create a reference for those involved in the offices of high-ranking positions in the Caliphate, such as princes and caliphs.
The encyclopedia consists of an introduction that sets the stage for the book, discussing its chapters, a historical overview of its creation, definitions of rules of composition, and an exploration of the evolution of composition art over time. The work also highlights the significance of prose over poetry. The main articles of this book include the following:
- The first article discusses the studies related to language and literature, enabling the officials in the Diwan al-Insha’ to perform their duties effectively by enhancing their knowledge of types of inks and papers, and methods for composing letters and documents.
- The second article addresses the affairs of Egypt, the concept of paths and kingdoms, and their organization since their inception.
- The third article focuses on various types of decrees and letters, detailing the arrangement of correspondence and translation practices.
- The fourth article consists of a comprehensive index of the emirs, scholars, sultans, kings, judges, and Sufis, explaining their titles and noting the correspondence related to governmental affairs during the Mamluk period.
- The fifth article elaborates on the various provinces and ranks of the Caliphate, discussing their organization and outlining the types of pledges of allegiance, along with information regarding emirs and sultans.
- The sixth article reviews permission for meetings, royal service, as well as exemptions and religious wills.
- The seventh article explores the concept of iqta’at (land grants), their origins, and categories.
- The eighth article discusses the essence of faith and its types since the pre-Islamic era, along with an examination of the Islamic state.
- The ninth article elaborates on the nature of treaties and types of peace agreements, detailing the contracts of safety made with non-believers and discussing matters concerning the dhimmis (non-Muslims under Islamic rule).
- The tenth article covers Mamluk letters and their models, including a history of postal services in the Levant and Egypt, with detailed discussion on carrier pigeons.
Notable Works of al-Qalqashandi
Among the remarkable works authored by Abu al-Abbas al-Qalqashandi are the following:
- The book “Nihayat al-Irb fi Ma’rifat Qaba’il al-Arab,” which focuses on genealogies.
- The book “Al-Ghayouth al-Hawami’ fi Sharh Jam’ al-Mukhtasar,” dedicated to Shafi’i jurisprudence.
- The book “Qala’id Juman fi Ma’rifat al-Arab,” which also delves into genealogies.
- The book “Daw’ al-Musfir wa Jina al-Duh al-Muthmir,” a summary of his earlier work Subh al-A’sha.