Some Leading Muslim Libraries of The World

Review
Author(s): GULAM SARWAR and Ghulam Sarwar

Review by: GULAM SARWAR and Ghulam Sarwar
Source: Islamic Studies, Vol. 24, No. 3 (Autumn 1985), pp. 409-412
Published by: Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, Islamabad
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20839734
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BOOK REVIEWS
SOME LEADING MUSLIM
OF THE WORLD
LIBRARIES
BY
fslamic
Foundation,
S.M.
He
the author
Imamuddin,
to the world
of
by writing
quite
elaborately
the Sultans
under
Library
some
oT the rich
the Bankipur
including
the Dhaka
and
Riza
remaining
of their rich contents,
to which Muslims
binding
of books and papers
the collection
as early as the days
of the Holy
ries and
of books
come
60.00
06.00
Bakhsh
on history, biography,
Prophet and the righteous
into Arabic
from Greek
He
Library, Rampur
tried to highlight
has
also
laws and
Caliphs
formally
began
carried
painting
and
Although
traditions had begun

building up of Libra
under the Umayyads.
the Syrians,
the Egyptians,
the Greeks
and
time to the establishment
of literary
the Persians.
However,
they could not devote much
of grammar,
of writing books on the science
institutions with the exception
religious
accounts
of some Greek works
and translations
into Arabic.
traditions, historical
had
Muslims
To
substantiate
tary) of the Qur'an

of'Abd
arts.
into close
the SyriaC
On
b.
the death
written
the Abbasid
and
papers
had
increased
marily
due
to the royal
period were
with
the author
statement,
who
Library
of Walid
by Imam
period,
bookshops
patronage
of three types, mosque
tells us that the Tafsir
(Commen
in the Royal Library
preserved
for writing works on various
scholars
[Jubayr] was
b. Jubair
by Sa'id
Marwan
in the Royal
Library, the works

and camels.
asses
During
his above
written
al-Mafik
A book
contact
has
the art of calligraphy,

miniature
once made
contributions.
special
had
leather
translation
Khuda
The
author
Library.
in the manuscripts.
hidden
University
treasures
out an evaluation
: TK.
price
book, has done great service

on leading
a monograph
libraries of the world.
and Fatimid
of Muslim
Abbasid
Libraries
Spain,
and under the Mugals
and other leading Muslim
of Delhi
libraries of the Sub-continent
pages,
IMAMUDD1N
of this well-researched
learning
has discussed
Libraries
216
1983.
Bangladesh.
S.M
had engaged
written by Hakim Masih
Joyah was translated from
the riooks were transferred from his
when
b. Yazid
Zuhri
public
were
had
alone
interest
opened
of learning.
libraries,
The
royal
to be
transported
in the sale and purchase

in a number of cities.
libraries which
libraries
on
the backs
of books
This
was
grew up during
and private
collections.
of
and
pri
that
410
ISLAMIC STUDIES
was
al-IJikmah
Bayt
of a library, an academy
combination
and a translation
bu
reau, founded on thebank of theTigris at Baghdad by Harun al-Rashid in 830 C E.

Mamun engaged scholars for translatingAristotle's books intoArabic. Rare books
were collected from distant places in Egypt, Syria, Iran and India.
was founded by theAbbasid Caliph al-Must
Library atMUSTAN?IRIYYAH
and
in
Billah
completed in six years. Rare and valuable
625/1227
tansjr
(1226-1242)
were transferredto itfrom theRoyal
160
camels
were
On
books
These
laden
books
Library.
also patronised art
The authormaintains that like theSaljuqs, theBuwayhids

literarure.
and
Besides theseroyal librariesat Baghdad and public librariesin other towns, there
were thousands of private collections in the empire of theAbbasid Caliphs and their
These
Wazirs.
including
private
collections
to copy
scribes
and were
rare MSS,
many
possessed
rare and valuable
well-staffed
works.
The author furtherremarks that theMuslim culture and civilization reached its
zenithduring the timeof al-4Aziz (975-96) son ofMu'izz, who had foundeda big library
called Khaza'in al-Qu?ur consistingof fortyrooms. There were 1600,000works and
booklets of which 600,000 dealt with theology,grammarand lexicography . Of these
and
on mathematics
were
6,000 works
alone.
astronomy
The buildingup of librariesinMuslim Spain began by importingbooks fromthe

the
As
East.
books
along
soldiers
with
in Spain,
landed
other valuable
The Umayyad
Library
products
of Cordoba
scholars
and
them carrying
followed
travellers
of the East.
became
one of the best
libraries
of the Mus
slimworld during the time of *Abd al-Rahman III.

ContemporaryArab scholars have spoken highlyof the libraryof IJakam II, its
its rare and
and
collection
huge
valuable
This
manuscripts.
was,
to them,
according
the biggest collection that a royal libraryever possessed in themedieval world. The
. In spite
spacious original librarybuilding failed to accommodate thenew accessions
of the employment
of a large number
of persons,
it took
six months
to remove
the rich
collection of the library to a new building.
The Medieval Muslims were well aware of the needs of libraryand accordingly
had
spacious
visible
from
New
slatedinto
library buildings
librarians,
cataloguers,
one
central
and original
Arabic
and
constructed,
and
readers
providing
lecturers
rooms
for stacks, copyists,
in such a way
that the whole
binders,
library was
point.
works
rare and
were written,
valuable
important Arabic
Greek
books
were
and Latin
works
transcribed
were
by expert
tran
cal
In the absetice of the

ligraphistsfor thewide circulationo fnew ideas and discoveries.
of knowledge. In
wide
services
scribes
their
rendered
the
for
spread
the
machine!,
printing
BOOK REVIEW
411
was a verycostlyaffair,books were freelybought and

spiteof the fact that transcription
sold in the book markets of Spanish towns.
Special carewas taken topreserve thosecostlybooks by binding theminembossed
leatherand fragrantwood. Their value was increased furtherby inlayingthemwith
gold
and
silver
and
lettering
ornamentation.
Persons of great learningand culturewere employed to run the administration

of the libraries. Books were arranged on the shelves subjeetwisewith a catalogue for
the ready
reference
by scholars
and
students.
Talking about themodern Spanish libraries, the author brings out thatduring
theperiod of about 800 years ofMuslim rule inSpain thematerial and culturaldevelop
ments that theMuslims had made were substantial and far reaching. They carried
and Latin works
translated Greek
literary treasures from the East to Spain,
new and important works
rare and valuable
in Arabic,
transcribed
wrote
into Arabic,
manuscripts
and preserved them in private and public libraries. These works dealt with various
subjects likepoetry,philosopy, fiction,lexicography,history,Jurisprudence,law of con
tracts, geography,
and
astronomy,
mathematics,
botany,
physics,
chemistry,
medicine
and
surgery.
The Arabic manuscripts preserved in the above mentioned libraries of Spain

It requires to be
contain richdata on the social and culturalhistoryofMuslim Spain.
a
and
to
of
side
that
of Spanish,
present complete picture
sifted,re-arranged
analysed
history.
Coming
as a part of educational
to the sub-continent,
policy,
the Mughal
emper
ors and noblemen had built up royalas well as private librarieshaving librarian,copyist,
translator,binder,gliderand painter among the staff; The royal librarywas established
by Babur inIndia.
During the decaying days of theMughals, educationa linstitutinsand libraries
lost their growing
of Delhi
importance
and
received
potrange
at Provincial
headquarters
likeOudh, Hyderabad, Pdtna,Dhaka atadMurshidabad from theNawwabs and nobles.

Among the spoils ofwar that theBritish had during theiroccupations of different
parts
the richest were
of India
To
collect
books
the library books

in libraries
attached
and museum
articles.
to mosques
and
madrasahs
and
to make
themavailable to scholars and studentshad been themain concern of the foundersof

themedieval Muslim libraries. Volga Pinto, while writing about Muslim librariesob
serves
The princes took great care concerning the building which were to serve as
public libraries. Some of them, like those of Shiraz, Cordoba and Cairo
were
placed
in separate
structures
rooms
with many
for different use;
galle
ries with shelves inwhich the books were kept, rooms where the visitors
could read and study,rooms set apart for those in charge ofmaking copies
of manuscripts,
some
cases,
rooms
rooms
which
for musical
served
as
even in
and
library assembles,
etc.
All rooms were richly
entertainments
ISLAMIC STUDIES
412
and comfortably
fitted;
'on the floors were
covered
with curtains,
the chief entrance
'door
to prevent the'cold air from entering.
carpets
and mats,
the readers
where
in oriental fashion squatted, reading arid even writing, holding the sheet
of paper or parchmentadroitly in thepalm of the lefthand. The windows
and
doors
heavy
specially
Some
of
by the Muslims
were
curtain
the Muslim
the rich collections
of
themselves
of the conflict
by invaders specially
owners
themselves.
because
Moghals
while
some
private
libraries
were,
collections
however,
Muslim
of ideas anoqg
having
were
destroyed
sects, others
destroyed
by
the
To conclude :The book Muslim Libraries of theWorld is a valuable addition

to the literature
author
on Muslims'
has carried
for prospective
out an
research
contributions
indepth
analysis
in the field of art and

of the subject
culture.
and has opened
The
learned
fresh avenues
scholars.
COLONEL
GUI.AM
SARWAR

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Review

Author(s): GULAM SARWAR and Ghulam Sarwar

traditions had begun

tary) of the Qur'an

of three types, mosque

tells us that the Tafsir

Library, the works

the art of calligraphy,

book, has done great service

libraries of the Sub-continent

in the sale and purchase

reau, founded on thebank of theTigris at Baghdad by Harun al-Rashid in 830 C E.

also patronised art

The authormaintains that like theSaljuqs, theBuwayhids

rare and valuable

The buildingup of librariesinMuslim Spain began by importingbooks fromthe

one of the best

slimworld during the time of *Abd al-Rahman III.

collection of the library to a new building.

for stacks, copyists,

that the whole

In the absetice of the

was a verycostlyaffair,books were freelybought and

Persons of great learningand culturewere employed to run the administration

The Arabic manuscripts preserved in the above mentioned libraries of Spain

likeOudh, Hyderabad, Pdtna,Dhaka atadMurshidabad from theNawwabs and nobles.

the library books

themavailable to scholars and studentshad been themain concern of the foundersof

for different use;

'on the floors were

the rich collections

To conclude :The book Muslim Libraries of theWorld is a valuable addition

in the field of art and

and has opened

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