Author: Abu Raef
The Role of Muslims in the Formation and Development of Sciences (Part 75)
Cordoba (Qurtoba): The Modern City
With the attributes and characteristics mentioned in the previous discussion about the city of Cordoba, it is not surprising that this city, in the middle of the fourth century AH (tenth century AD), appeared as a modern city — a city that could rival the global metropolises of the third millennium! And why should that be surprising, when in this city, schools had been established for educating the people, public and private libraries had expanded, to the extent that Cordoba possessed more books than any other land and had become a cultural center and a scientific gathering place for all kinds of knowledge in every field?
The poor were educated in schools free of charge at the expense of the rulers. Therefore, it is not strange to know that every individual in society was literate, and in Cordoba, not a single person could be found who was illiterate — while at the same time, in Europe, even the highest-ranking individuals (except for a few clergymen) were uneducated. [1]
It is worth noting that this scientific and civilizational renaissance in Cordoba occurred simultaneously with an administrative renaissance, which manifested itself through advanced governmental institutions and systems, such as the Emirate and the Ministry. Likewise, the judicial, police, and hisbah (public morality oversight) systems advanced, along with other institutions. Parallel to this, a great industrial movement also emerged; various industries developed there, such as leatherwork, shipbuilding, agricultural tools, pharmaceuticals, and others — as well as the extraction of gold, silver, and copper. [2]
If we look at the urban and modern life of Cordoba, we will see that the city was divided into five sections, as if they were five large districts. Shaykh Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Maqri says:
“Between each city and another, there was a huge, strong wall, and each section enjoyed a certain level of independence. Each had baths, markets, and industries according to the needs of its people.” [3]
Cordoba was also famous for its markets, rich with various goods, and every district had its own particular market. [4]
Some Statistics on the Prosperity of Cordoba
Mosques: During the reign of Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil, there were 490 mosques, which later increased to 3,837.
Public houses (ordinary citizens): 213,077 houses.
Houses of the elites: 60,300 houses.
Shops and stores: 80,455.
Public baths: 900.
Suburbs (districts): 28. [5]
These numbers varied depending on the political circumstances and the differing accounts of historians. However, these differences only reflect the grandeur, beauty, and magnificence of Cordoba, not the reality of its existence and achievements.
The population of Cordoba during the Islamic era was around 500,000 people. It is worth mentioning that today, the population of Cordoba is around 310,000. [6]
Cordoba in the Eyes of Scholars and Writers
Around the year 350 AH / 961 AD, Ibn Hawqal, a merchant from Mosul, visited Cordoba and described it as follows:
“The largest city in al-Andalus is Cordoba. In the Maghreb, there is no city equal to it in terms of population and area. It is said that it resembles one side of Baghdad, and even if not exactly so, it is close to it. Cordoba is fortified with a strong stone wall and has two gates that open toward the valley from within the wall. Al-Rusafah (the northern district) is located on the higher ground of the city and connected to its lower part, which is known as al-Rabad (the area full of trees). Its buildings are contiguous, surrounded from the east, north, west, and south. On the side of the valley, there is a riverside path dedicated to markets and trade, and the houses of the common people are in the suburbs. The inhabitants are wealthy and skilled.” [7]
Even the people of Cordoba were known as nobles, scholars, and among the most distinguished members of society. Shaykh al-Idrisi said:
“Cordoba has never been void of great scholars and eminent men of virtue. Its merchants were wealthy, possessing abundant wealth and a luxurious lifestyle; they owned grand ships and had lofty ambitions.” [8]
Imam al-Himyari wrote: “Cordoba is the capital of al-Andalus, the mother of its cities, and the seat of the Umayyad Caliphate. The marks of their reign are still visible there. The virtues of Cordoba and the merits of its caliphs are too famous to be recounted. They were the nobles of the lands and the most honorable among people, known for their sound faith, pure earnings, elegant clothing, high ambition, and noble manners. In Cordoba lived the greatest scholars and the most distinguished men of virtue.” [9]
Yaqut al-Hamawi also described it: “A great city in al-Andalus, located in the center of the land — it was its throne and capital. There, the kings of Banu Umayyah ruled; it was the source of the learned and the cradle of the great.” [10]
Abu al-Hasan ibn Bassam said about Cordoba: “[Cordoba] was the pinnacle of perfection, the center of glory, the Umm al-Qura (mother of cities), the dwelling of people of virtue and piety, the homeland of men of knowledge and wisdom, the heart of the region, the spring of sciences, the dome of Islam, the abode of flowing intellects, the garden of fruitful thoughts, and the sea of gems of genius. From its horizon rose the stars of the earth and the great men of the age — masters of prose and poetry appeared there. Elegant works were authored, and precious books were written. The reason for all this — and for the superiority of the people of that land, both past and present — is that the horizon of Cordoba was never filled except with people devoted to research and seekers of various branches of knowledge and literature. Generally, most people of that land (especially Cordoba, and al-Andalus in general) were from the noble Arabs of the East who conquered it, the commanders of the armies of al-Sham and Iraq who settled there. Thus, every region’s lineage returned to a noble root, and rarely could a city in that land be found without an eloquent writer or a skillful poet.” [11]
Imam Ibn al-Wardi described Cordoba and its people in Kharidat al-‘Aja’ib as follows:
“Its people are the nobles of cities and the chiefs of men, excelling in food, clothing, steeds, and high aspirations. Among them are the greatest scholars, the lords of virtue, the most prominent warriors, and the heroes of battlefields.” After describing its grand mosque and bridge, he added: “The beauties of this city surpass what words can describe.” [12]
Cordoba was one of the great cities of Islamic civilization that played a major role in advancing humanity and moving its wheel forward. In truth, Cordoba was not the only example in this regard; if our discussion were about Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo, Basra, or other cities, it would appear equally — if not more — astonishing. And this is no wonder, for this is the civilization of the Muslims — the greatest of the world’s civilizations and the shining jewel upon the forehead of human history. [13]
Continues…
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References:
[1] Hamada, Muhammad Mahir. Al-Maktabat fi al-Islam: Nash’atuhā wa Taṭawuruhā wa Maṣā’iruhā, p. 99, Mu’assasat al-Risālah, Beirut, Lebanon.
[2] Mādhā Qaddama al-Muslimūn lil-‘Ālam?, p. 677.
[3] Al-Maqri, Ahmad ibn Muhammad. Nafh al-Ṭīb min Ghusn al-Andalus al-Raṭīb, p. 458, Dar Ṣādir, Beirut, Lebanon.
[4] Mādhā Qaddama al-Muslimūn lil-‘Ālam?, p. 688.
[5] Nafh al-Ṭīb, vol. 1, p. 540.
[6] The population of Cordoba at the time of the author was approximately this number, and it has changed little even today (Wikipedia).
[7] Mādhā Qaddama al-Muslimūn lil-‘Ālam?, p. 689.
[8] Al-Sharif al-Idrisi, Muhammad ibn Muhammad. Nuzhat al-Mushtaq fi Ikhtirāq al-Āfāq, vol. 1, p. 575, Maktabat al-Thaqāfah al-Dīniyyah, Cairo, Egypt.
[9] Al-Rawd al-Mi‘ṭār, p. 456.
[10] Mādhā Qaddama al-Muslimūn lil-‘Ālam?, p. 690.
[11] Ibid., p. 690.
[12] Kharīdat al-‘Ajā’ib wa Farīdat al-Gharā’ib, p. 62.
[13] Mādhā Qaddama al-Muslimūn lil-‘Ālam?
