Muthir al-gharam ila ziyarat al-Quds wa-al-Sham [A Journey to Jerusalem and the Levant].

8vo (135 x 184 mm). 88 ff. Arabic manuscript on paper. Black naskh script with important words and phrases picked out in red. Modern full calf ruled in blind. A lively description of 14th century Syria, Palestine, and Jordan by an author who lived and travelled in the medieval Levant, this manuscript was copied just 100 years after its author's death. Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Tamim al-Maqdisi (d. 1363 CE) wrote "A Journey to Jerusalem and the Levant" in two main parts: the first is on Al-Sham, or the Levant; the second on his beloved hometown of Jerusalem. This record of the 14th century Levant is scarce, and only two examples are held in institutions: one later manuscript in the records of the National Library of Israel, and a copy similar to this one at Princeton University. - In his work, al-Maqdisi explains the borders and boundaries of the Levant, the origin of the name 'Sham', and describes the cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Homs, and Antioch. Passionate about his subject, al-Maqdisi describes al-Sham as a land of gathering, with many merits for those who might move there, and references several verses and hadiths which support his point. - The second half focuses entirely on al-Maqdisi's hometown (the nisba 'al-Maqdisi' itself refers to the Arabic name of Jerusalem). Here, he discusses the great Muslim architecture of Jerusalem: the construction of the Dome of the Rock by Abdul Malik, and the wonders of Al-Aqsa Mosque, including its central role in the Night Journey of the Prophet Muhammad. He describes the joy of life in Jerusalem, and the merits of living, fasting, praying, and giving charity in the city. The work concludes with short biographies of the prophets, companions, ascetics, and other notables who famously visited Jerusalem or were buried there, as well as a reference to a biography of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi and his conquest of Al-Aqsa. - Light soiling, final leaves chipped in margin with not loss to text; well-preserved. - Acquired by a family collection in the late 1950s. Subsequently in a private West London collection. - This manuscript has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12274-220412. - Not in GAL.