Translated, with introduc tion and notes, by paul m. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidhs book of contemplationbut also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of islamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and. At age ninety he dictated his memoirs in an entertaining and informative narrative called kitab alitibar, or the book of contemplation. The volume comprises lightly annotated translation of a key medieval arabic text that bears directly on the crusades and crusader society and the muslim experience of them.
Full of detail, wit and melancholy, usamas narrative anecdotes illustrate the inscrutability. The book of contemplation ebook by usama ibn munqidh. The book of contemplation penguin classics by munqidh usama ibn. Munqidh fought as a chivalric mercenary for assorted masters, often. The selection from usama ibn munqidhs kitab alltibar otherwise know in english as the book of contemplation is a book in which usama provides a series of short vignettes as a testimony to his experiences in the medieval middle east and the crusades. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidh s book of contemplation but also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of islamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious european invaders. Ibn munqidh was born on 4 july 1095 at his familys castle at shayzar. Usama s last patron was the mighty sultan saladin, to whom he intended his most famous work, the book of. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the book of contemplation. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. When the aged warrior poet, usama ibn munqidh of shaizar in syria, reflected on his life, he must have thought it an eventful one. Islam and the crusades penguin classics kindle edition by munqidh, usama ibn, paul m.
Usamah ibn munqidh project gutenberg selfpublishing. Usama ibn munqidh birthdaythursday, july 04, 1095 birthplaceshaizar diedthursday, november 17, 1188 occupation poet, courtier, soldier usamah ibn munqidh born june 4, 1095, in. The crusades as seen through the eyes of muslims a significant contribution to the understanding of the medieval holy wars between. Usama ibn munqidh interesting stories about famous. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties, as well as. Usama ibn munqidh the book of contemplation islam and. Islam and the crusades penguin classics by ibn munqidh, usama 2008 paperback. Islam and the crusades penguin classics by usama ibn munqidh 20080930 usamah ibn munqidh paul m. There are no comparable sources for the first period of the kingdom in the twelfth. Usama, the middle east, and the crusades 1516 words. He was born at their stronghold of shayzar on the 27th jumada ii 4884th july 1095,xv and lived there until about 52611, when he joined the entourage of imad aldin zangi i. Click download or read online button to get the book of contemplation book now.
The crusades as seen through the eyes of muslims a significant contribution to the understanding of the medieval holy wars between christians and muslims, this volume brings together the best and most complete eyewitness account of the crusades from the perspective of a. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidhs book of contemplation. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties, the arrival of the. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a. Usama ibn munqidh article about usama ibn munqidh by the. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidh s book of contemplationbut also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of islamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious european invaders. Because his life spanned much of the early crusades, usama was an eyewitness to many of the events. Usama ibn murshid ibn ali, who was known to most of his contemporaries as usama ibn munqidh, was originally of bedouin origin, of the clan of munqidh. As we fought, we withdrew before them, and they did not renew their pursuit. Usama ibn munqidh was born on 4 july, 1095 in northern syria. Ibn munqidh, usama author, cobb, paul m translator publisher. The circle of contemplation generated a mystical theology that differs radically from mainstream kabbalistic theosophy. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidhs book of contemplation but also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of islamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious european invaders. The book of contemplation by usamah ibn munqidh, 97801404557, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
This book contains the autobiographical works of usama ibn munqidh, a twelfthcentury arab aristocrat. Usama ibn munqidh the book of contemplation, literally a book of learning by example is an autobiographical book written by usama ibn munqidh, an arab syrian scholar and soldier of the 12th century, a son of the munqidh, a noble bedouin family that. Jul 03, 2008 usama ibn munqidh was born on 4 july, 1095 in northern syria. Nov 14, 2016 get your copy of my new book, why does the heathen rage. The volume comprises lightly annotated translation of a key medieval arabic text that bears directly on the crusades and. Through his writings the reader is able to get a muslim account of the crusades. The major legal treatises of the kingdom of jerusalem all date from the thirteenth century, after the kingdom had largely been reconquered by its muslim neighbours. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi 1 also usamah, ousama, etc arabic. His most famous work, the book of contemplation, survives as a rare look into the holy land during the crusades from a muslim perspective. In the last decades of his life he concentrated on writing, collecting his scattered poems into a muchpraised diwan, but specialising in topical anthologies of poetry and prose like the book of the staff or kernels of refinement. Islam and the crusades penguin classics by usama ibn munqidh 20080930 at. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of contemplation.
July 4, 1095 november 17, 1188 was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris knight, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of shaizar in northern syria. Usama ibn munqidh, a muslim warrior during the early crusader era, was also a poet and a writer. July 4, 1095 november 17, 1188 2 was a medieval muslim poet, author, faris professional warrior, and diplomat from the banu munqidh dynasty of shaizar in northern syria. Usama ibn munqidh, the author of our texts, was born at his familys castle at shayzar in northern syria on wednesday, 4 july 1095. A meticulous and systematic study of these writings forms the core of this book. Usamah ibn munqidh quotes usamah ibn munqidh quotes showing 11 of 1 i was about to begin the prayer when a franj threw himself upon me, seized me, and turned my face to the east, telling me, thats how you pray. Full of detail, wit and melancholy, usamas narrative anecdotes illustrate the inscrutability of gods will in life, as well as providing a memorable record of islams long encounter with the crusaders, known to usama only as the franks. Usama ibnmunqidh arabsyrian warrior, author, and diplomat. Paul m cobb this book contains the autobiographical works of usama ibn munqidh, a twelfthcentury arab aristocrat. Usama ibn munqidh was a 12th century syrian noble b.
Usama was a syrian poet, diplomat and physician from the 12th century. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidhs book of contemplation but also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of islamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and. Read download the book of contemplation pdf pdf download. Usamah ibn munqidh an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. The book of contemplation penguin classics by munqidh usama ibn author. Pdf usama ibn munqidh and crusader law in the twelfth.
Usama ibn munqidh was a muslim faris or cavalier from northern syria who experienced and wrote a great deal during the crusades. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidhs book of contemplation but also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of i slamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and the curious european invaders. He had participated in his share of fighting, intrigue and hunting. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani 1 also usamah, ousama, etc arabic. In this article, i will be focusing on usama ibn munqidhs memoir kitab alitibar the book of contemplation and his depiction of warfare in it based on his experiences. Full of detail, wit and melancholy, usama s narrative anecdotes illustrate the inscrutability of gods will in life, as well as providing a memorable record of islams long encounter with the crusaders, known to usama only as the franks. Islam and the crusades ebook written by usama ibn munqidh. Read the book of contemplation islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidh available from rakuten kobo.
Usamas book of contemplation, then, is a meditation upon the basic fact that god works in mysterious ways, and nothing we can do will hasten. Usamah ibnmunqidh an arabsyrian gentleman and warrior in the period of the crusades. His most remarkable work is the book of contemplation. Contemplation of the passing of what had once been was also something of a subgenre in arabic literature, from the belleslettrist aljahiz d. Pdf the book of contemplation download full pdf book download.
Translated, with introduction and notes, by paul m. Focusing on twelfthcentury arab aristocrat usama ibn munqidhs book of contemplation but also including extracts from the book of the staff and kernels of refinement, this volume offers a strikingly human portrayal of i slamic perspectives on daytoday existence, warfare, and. The presentation of the franks in selected muslim sources. A favorite of scholars and students alike, usama ibn munqidh 10951188 is probably the bestknown muslim source for the crusading period. Hitti columbia university, new york, 2000, a pdf of 1929 edition. The crusades as seen through the eyes of muslims a significant contribution to the understanding of the medieval holy wars between christians and muslims, this volume brings together the best and most complete eyewitness account of the crusades from the perspective of a medieval muslim. Pdf the book of contemplation download full pdf book.
Islam and the crusades by usama ibn munqidhsurviving works of an 11th century syrian sound like reportage in casualsounding translation. Ali ibn munqidh alkinani alkalbi also usamah, ousama, etc arabic. Islam and the crusades penguin classics by ibn munqidh, usama 2008 paperback ibn munqidh, usama on. Usama ibn munqidh 10951188 was born in northern syria. Two of this group s penetrating speculations on god and the origins of the universe are the book of contemplation and the fountain of wisdom. Islam and the crusades has 1 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The book of contemplation download ebook pdf, epub. Usamas last patron was the mighty sultan saladin, to whom he intended his most famous work, the book of. His life coincided with the rise of several medieval muslim dynasties.
1204 1434 358 744 7 313 1141 19 81 740 1012 440 647 731 249 170 390 1393 773 413 1308 1234 927 131 774 1220 2 1266 423 1395 1364 1438 126 36