As-Suyuti

4) Unimportant variant in (B). We have subsequently designated this sentence by its simple abbreviation: V.s.i.

5) according to 'Amir ibn Çâlih' — (G).

6) V.s.i. in (B).

7) V.s.i. in (G).

8) The name of Ish'âq is mentioned in all the copies; in truth, it is, as is well known, Ismâ'îl [JW: this reflects an Islamic revisionist variation on Genesis where Ismail is allegedly almost sacrificed instead of Isaac. In Genesis, it is Isaac who is almost sacrificed. This revisionism is widely believed in modern Islam and is reflected in the opinion of the Editor and/or Translator. This particular revisionism may be based on the use of Hadiths to explain Quranic passages. This is potentially illuminating in two ways. 1. It shows that the editor and/or translator would not alter the main text if it contradicted their religious beliefs. 2. It suggests that renowned Hadith scholar as-Suyuti (who was also a Sufi) held an opinion on the exegesis of this passage in the Quran that differs from modern exegeses.]

9) “The sky suddenly changed color, the earth cracked; (G): “it changed color and the earth cracked.”

10) V.s.i. in (G).

11) and that day God chose Ibrahim as his friend — (B).

12) V.s.i.

13) Surah as-Suffat:, 37, verses 104-105.

2) In the first part of the Treatise, we read, on page three of the Fez edition and in the title: "The first earthquake that occurred in the world": "The exegetes relate that when Cain killed Abel, the earth was shaken by [earthquakes] for seven days."

3) Az-Zubaïr ibn Bakkâr ibn 'Abd-Allâh al-Qurshî al-Asdi al-Makkî (172-256 AH/788-870 AD), genealogist and historian; held the office of Qadi in Mecca. This is indeed al-Muwaffaqiyyât, a work composed by Ibn Bakkâr for al-Muwaffaq ibn al-Mutawakkil the Abbasid (from whom the title derives) and which is a collection of original short stories and historical facts. Cf. Az-Zirikli, vol. II, p. 73.

4) Ka'b ibn Mâti' ibn thî Hajn al-H'imyarî, Abû Ish'âq; was in the pre-Islamic period, one of the greatest Jewish scholars of Yemen; he embraced Islam at the time of the Caliphate of Abû Bakr and came to Medina under 'Umar; the companions of the Prophet borrowed many historical facts concerning the ancient peoples. Cf. al-A'lâm, vol. VI, p. 85.

5) Abraham is said to have been born and lived in Ur in Chaldea (Mesopotamia) during the Larsa period, that is, between 1920 and 1800 BC. Cf. Sir Leonard Woolley, History of Mankind, vol. I, Prehistory, UNESCO, 1967, p. 616. The scene in question is said to have taken place in the valley of Mina, near Makk. Cf. Ibn Jubaïr, Voyages, trans. and comments, M. Gaudefroy Demombynes, Paris, 1949, p. 184; M. Gaudefroy Demombynes, Mahomet, L'évolution de l'Humanité, Paris, 1969, p. 351.

6) Yaqût al-H'amawi indicates in his Mu'jam, that at the time of Abraham, one of the regions of al-Kûfa, named Bâniqyâ, and having 12 "farsakh" in length (or about 75 km), was shaken every night by earthquakes..; according to tradition, the passage of Abraham in this locality would have stopped this cataclysm.. ! Cf. Yâqüt, Mu'jam al-Buldan, 1st ed., 1906, vol. II, p.50.

7) The Koran, complete translation Muhammad Hamidoullah, Club Francaise du Livre, 1966. Çûrat [Surah] 37: “ Les Rangées en rangs”, verses: 104-105, pp. 433-34.

JW: Translators Notes 8-28 on page 48-49 are missing in my copy

A) JW: Shuaib is a an ancient Midianite prophet in Islam, the most revered prophet in the Druze faith, and is traditionally identified with biblical Jethro, Moses' father-in-law.

14) Surah al-A'raf: 7, verse 91.

15) V.s.i. in (A).

16) V.s.i. in (B)

17) V.s.i.

18) Surah al-A'raf: 7, verse 91.

19) V.s.i. in (B).

JW: Translators Notes 8-28 on page 48-49 are missing in my copy

20) V.s.i. in (B)

21) Surah al-A'raf: 7, verse 155.

22) V.s.i. in (B and G)

23) V.s.i.

24) V.s.i. in (B)

25) in his people: (B) among.

26) Variant in the name of the terminal link of the isnad.

27) Variant in the name of the person who published the hadith in question.

28) V.s.i. in (B)

29) Surah an-Nisâ': 4, verse 153.

30) They were then carried away by the earthquake; (B): they were then struck down.

31) V.s.i. in (B and G).

32) V.s.i. in (G).

JW: Translators Notes 8-28 on page 48-49 are missing in my copy

38) V.s.i. in (A and G).

39) I passed: exists in all copies; it would be more accurate to say "I was out", which is more in line with the idea expressed.

40) V.s.i. in (B).

41) V.s.i. in (G).

42) V.s.i. in (B).

43) V.s.i. in (G).

44) They erased them; (G): they transformed them .

JW: Translators Notes 8-28 on page 48-49 are missing in my copy.

29) 3rd Orthodox [Rashudin] Caliph (47 av. AH-35 AH/577-656 AD).

30) These are blocks of hardened clay (Hijâra min sijjîl - تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍۢ مِّن سِجِّيلٍۢ), Quran, idem Surah al-fil (105), verse 4, p. 610.

31) This is the campaign of evangelization of Arabia launched by Abraha, viceroy of Yemen (his army included one or more elephants); this operation has generally been assigned the date of 570 AD; however, it seems that the latter took place before this date. Indeed, the inscription of Murayghan, Ryckmans 506, mentions the campaign that Abraha had organized against the Ma'add and this, in central Arabia; in the meantime, another part of the South Arabian army defeated the tribal confederation of the 'Amir b. Ça'ça'a in the oasis of Tuaraba (100 km east of al-T'â'if); the inscription includes the date of 662 of Sabaean Era (around 550 AD); the Year of the Elephant falls after this date but well before 570 AD, because "the fairly substantial bundle of texts from the decade or so preceding the Murayghan inscription, coupled with the complete cessation of South Arabian documents shortly thereafter (the last being dated to 565 of the Sabaean Era, towards 553 AD) would suggest that it is rather unlikely that Abraha and his kingdom were still flourishing enough to mount a large-scale expedition against Mecca as late as 570." In this sense, the earthquake in question must have occurred near Mecca, probably between 550 and 560 AD. Cf. A.F.L. Beeston, E.I., 2nd ed. p. 916

45) V.s.i.

46) V.s.i. in (A, B, G, and D).

47) of impurities — (G) of

48) V.s.i. in (G).

32) This is the sanctuary of the Ka'ba, in Mecca.

33) The exact date of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad is not known. According to tradition, it was either the 10th or the 12th of Rabi' I, 569 or 570 AD. Generally, the dates given range from 567 to 573; the date of 571 has often been adopted.

34) Ah'mad ibn 'abd Allah ibn Ah'mad al-Isbahani, Abu Nu'aim (336-430 AH/948-1038 AD); historian, lived in Isfahan; he composed among other works, "Dala'il an-Nubuwwa" (The proofs of the prophecy). Cf. Ziriklî, al-A'lam, vol. I, p.150.

35) Amina bint Wahb, mother of the Prophet.

49) V.s.i. in (G); in another copy; according to Umm Hani ai-Makhzûmiyya who said.

36) Iwân = palace; Kisrâ or Khosroes is the title of the Persian kings among the Arabs. This palace was located in Ctesiphon (33°-0' lat. N. and 44°7' long. E.), in the southern district, named Asfanbar; it was built by the Sassanid sovereign of Persia Sapor (Sâbûr) I (241-72 AD); Cf. M. Streck, E.I., vol. III, p. 77.

37) Around 570 AD.

33) V.s.i. in (B).

34) eighty; (D): two hundred.

35) the body of the sentence going from "eighty" to "catastrophes" does not exist in G.

36) V.s.i. in (B).

JW: Translators Notes 8-28 on page 48-49 are missing in my copy

50) Variants in isnad.

51) V.s.i. in (G).

51) V.s.i. in (G).

52) V.s.i. in (G).

49) V.s.i. in (G); in another copy; according to Umm Hani ai-Makhzûmiyya who said.

38) 'Abd ar-Rah'mân ibn Çakhr ad-Dawsî al-Yamanî (602-678 or 79 AD). Companion of the Prophet. Reportedly transmitted 3,500 hadiths. Ibn Hanbal's Musnad contains 213 of his hadiths. Cf. J. Robson, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 133.

39) In the first part of the Treatise, (p. 10 of the Fez edition), two other hadiths mention the same earthquake; one of them indicates that it occurred in Medina.

40) Abu Huraira came to Medina while the Prophet was besieging Khaibar (Muh'arram 7 AH = May 11 - June 9, 628 AD); the earthquake in question therefore took place between May 628 and 13 Rabi' I 11 AH = June 8, 632, which is the date of the Prophet's death. Cf. Zirikli, vol. IV, pp. 80-81; H.G. Cattenoz, Tables de concordance des ères chrétienne et hégirienne, 3rd ed., Rabat 1961; we will use this work to establish all date correspondences.

53) Uh'ud or H'ira; (B): Uh'ud and H'ira.

54) V.s.i. in (B and G).

55) And 'Ali in (D and B).

56) V.s.i. in (A).

57) at'-T'abarâni — (G).

41) Muhammad b. Isma'il b. Ibrahim b. Mughira b. Bardizbah Abu 'Abd-Allah al-Ju'fî (194-256 AH/810-870 AD). Famous traditionist. His work entitled "ac-Cah'ih" groups 7,400 traditions. His traditions are of the highest authority. Cf. J. Robson, E.I., 2nd ed. p. 1337.

42) Anas b. Malik, Abû H'amza (10 av. AH-91 or 93 AH/612-709 or 11 AD), servant of the Prophet; he is one of the most prolific traditionists. Bukhari And Muslim recorded 278 traditions of Anas. Cf. A.J. Wensinck [J. Robson], E.I., 2nd ed, p. 496.

43) It seems that this is indeed Mount H'ira (Mount Uh'ud is located near Medina). Ibn Jubaïr who mentions the same earthquake (Voyages, trans. M. Gaudefroys-Demombynes, Paris, 1949, p. 133), also places the event on Mount H'ira, which "rises to the east, about a parasang from Mecca and dominates Mina." This is the well-known place where the Prophet retreated and received the Revelation.

44) Abû Bakr aç-Çiddîq (573-634 AD), 'Umar ibn al-Khat't'âb (584-644 AD), and 'Uthman ibn 'Affan (577-656 AD), respectively first, second and third Orthodox [aka Rashudin] Caliphs.

45) It is known that 'Ali, Abû Bakr and 'Uthman were the first Meccans to embrace the new faith (around 610-613 AD); 'Umar ibn al-Khat't'âb, for his part, only converted around 616. Cf. Gaudefroy-Demombynes, Mahomet, pp. 98-99.

If it is Mount H'ira, the earthquake in question must have occurred either between May 616 {date of the conversion of 'Umar ibn al-Khat't'ab and July 16, 622 (date of the Hegira), this in the case where the Prophet and his companions climbed Mount H'ira, during their stay in Mecca (before the Hegira), or what is more probable (as-Suyût'î mentioning the earthquakes in chronological order) between February 16, 628 (the date of the Prophet's departure for the 'Umra) and June 8, 632, the period during which the Prophet had performed the pilgrimage (631). If it is Mount Uh'ud, the earthquake in question must probably have occurred between July 16, 622 and June 8, 632 (date of the Prophet's death): the period during which Muh'ammad resided in Medina; and as the last earthquake cited is between May 628 and June 632, the date of that of H'ira must be inserted in the same interval. In any case, it seems that it is necessary, (whether it is Mount H'îra or Mount Uh'ud), to retain the interval February 628 - June 12, 632.

46) Muslim ibn Hajjâj ibn Muslim al-Qushaïri an-Nîsâbûri (204-261 AH/820-875 AD). Famous traditionist. He grouped in his “Cah'îh' ” approximately 12,000 hadiths. Cf. Zirikli, al-A'lam, vol. VIII, pp. 117-118.

47) 'Ali ibn Abî T'âlib ibn 'Abd al-Mut't'alib (600-661 AD), fourth Orthodox [aka Rashudin] Caliph, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet.

48) T'alh'a ibn 'Ubayd Allah ibn 'Uthmân at-Taïml al-Qurashi al-Madani (28 av. AH-36 AH/596-656 AD). Companion of the Prophet ; one of the first eight people who embraced Islam. Cf. Ziriklî, al-A'lam, vol. VIII, p. 331.

49 Az-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwâm ibn Khuwailid (28 av. AH-36 AH/596-656 AD), Companion of the Prophet.

50) Ah'mad ibn 'Ali ibn al-Muthanna at-Tamîmî al-Mawsili (...-307/...-919). Traditionalist. Cf. Ziriklî, al-A'lam, vol. I, p. 164.

51) Sulaymân ibn Ah'mad ibn Ayyûb ibn Matir al-Lakhmî ash-Shâmi, famous traditionist (260-360/873-971). Cf. Zirikli, al-A'lam, vol. III, p. 181.

52) Muh'ammad ibn al-'Abbas ibn 'abd al-Mut't'alib al-Qurashi al-Hâshimi, (3 av. AH-68AH/619-687 AD), "father of Qur'anic exegesis"; Companion of the Prophet. He is credited with several authentic traditions. Cf. Ziriklî, al-A'lam, vol. IV, pp. 228-29.

58) Ibn abi Shaiba, Nu'aim ibn H'ammad in al-Fitan and » — (A and G).

59) V.s.i. in (B).

60) V.s.i. in (G).

61) and this in Medina — (B).

62) twenty; in another copy: ten.

53) Nu'aïm ibn H'ammâd ibn Mu'âwiyya ibn al-Hârith (...-228/...-843), traditionalist. Resided in Egypt and then in Iraq. Among his works, the one cited by as-Suyûtl and entitled: "al-Fitan wa-l-Malah'im". Cf. Zirikli, al-A'lam, vol. IX, p. 14.

54) Abû Bakr b. 'Ali b. Thâbit (392-463/1002-1071). The most famous of his works is the "Tarikh, Baghdâd", a directory of scholarly traditionists who lived in Baghdad (14 volumes published in Egypt, 1349). He is the author of about a hundred treatises, the majority of which are devoted to the "sciences of Hadith". Cf. W. Marcais, E.I., p. 981. On page 10 of the Fez edition, another tradition is worded as follows:

Ibn Abî ad-Dunyâ published the following tradition:

the earth was shaken by an earthquake during the reign of 'Umar; he struck it with his hand and said: "What is the matter with you, what is the matter with you? It seems as if it were the Day of Resurrection.

63) V.s.i. in (G).

64) Abu al-H'usain, (B): Abu al-H'asan.

65) V.s.i. in (G).

66) V.s.i. in (A).

67) 'Umar; in another copy: Muh'ammad.

68) V.s.i. in (G).

69) V.s.i. in (A, D, and G).

70) “sitting in ar-Ruh'ba, the earth was shaken by an earthquake, so 'Ali struck it — (G).

71) V.s.i. in (B).

58) 'Abd al-Karim b. Muh'ammad b. 'Abd al-Karim, Abû-l-Qâsim ar-Rafi'i al-Qazwînî (557-623 AH/1162-1226 AD). Lived in Qazwin. Jurisconsult Shafi'ite. His work is entitled: "at-Tadwin fi Dhikr Akhbar Qazwin”. Cf. Ziriklî, al A'lam, vol. IV, p. 179.

59) Ruh'ba is a village located near al-Qâdisiyya, at a stage of al-Kûfa, on the south side. Ibn Jubaïr who passed there around 1184 AD, mentions the existence, in this place, "of constructions and cultures". Yâqût al-H'amawî notes, towards the first third of the 13th century, that this village was in full decadence. Cf. Ibn Jubaïr, Voyages... p. 240; Yâqût, Mu'jam..., vol. IV, p. 234.

60) The earthquake in question must have occurred between 4 December 656 (Battle of the Camel), the date from which 'Ali first entered the city of al-Kûfa and the day of his death in that same city on 24 January 661; (after having fought Mu'awiyya at Çiffin in June-August 657 and the Kharijites in 659 AD, he had retired definitively to al-Kûfa). E.I., vol. I, p. 286.

61) This is the earthquake mentioned on page 12 of Part 1 and which is reported by three hadiths. One of these hadiths indicates that it took place in the city of al-Baçra, another specifies that it took place occurred during the night; the earthquake in question occurred at the time of Ibn 'Abbas. This is 'abd-Allâh ibn 'Abbâs ibn 'Abd Mut't'alib alj-Qurashî (619-687 AD). He was born in Mecca. It is possible that the earthquake mentioned occurred in al-Baçra, during his stay in Iraq: he was in fact present at the Battle of the Camel and at [the Battle of] Çiffin alongside 'Ali (Dec. 656-Feb. 659 AD).

72) V.s.i. in (B).

73) V.s.i. in (G).

74) Badr -- (B).

75) V.s.i. in (G).

62) It is likely that the village in question is located in the suburb of al-Kûfa (a city in Iraq, south of the ruins of Babylon ci. note 192). Taking into account the chronological order adopted in the treatise, this earthquake would have occurred between 661 AD and 712-713 AD, the date of the next earthquake.

63) This is Muh'ammad ibn Jarîr ibn Yazid at'-T'abarî (224-310 A.H./ 839 923 AD), historian, traditionist and exegete. Lived in Baghdad.

64) Muh'ammad ibn Mûsâ al-Khuwârizml, Abû 'abd-Allâh, mathematician, astronomer and historian. Cf. complete list of his works, in E. Wiedermann, E.I., 2nd ed., pp. 965-66 (...-232- A.H./...- 847 AD). Ziriklî, vol. V, p. 377.

65) Adâr corresponds to the month of March of the Christian era (Adâr 94 A.H. therefore corresponds to March 713).

66) This is ancient Antioch (left bank of the Orontes), founded in 300 BC by Seleucus I; this city suffered during the first five centuries of the Christian era, from at least ten major earthquakes; that of 526 AD, would have caused at least 250,000 victims; (not mentioned by as-Suyût'î). Current Antakié (36° 14' lat. N. 36° 07' long. E.) covers only a tenth of the surface area of the city that existed before Justinian; the latter had, inside the walls (a crenellated wall 22 miles in circumference — more than 23 km — with 360 towers according to Ibn Butlan), which are still recognizable, built, on a more restricted plan, the new city. Cf. Streck, E.I., vol. I, p. 363-366. The city suffered from severe earthquakes in the 19th century. Cf. Streck, [H.A.R. Gibb], E.I., 2nd ed., p. 532; M. Canard, Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie de H'amdanides [H'amdanid Dynasty], vol. I, pp. 227-28

66 bis) In Sham or elsewhere?

67). 8th Umayyad Caliph . The earthquake in question occurred during his reign, that is to say between 10 Safar 99 = 22 September 717 and 20 Rajab 101 = 5 February 720.

77) see infra, p. 13 [of the first part of the Fez edition.].

68) Cf. p. 13 of the first part of the Fez edition.

69) 'Ali ibn al-Mudh'affar ibn Ibrâhîm al-Kindi al-Wadâ'i (1242 AD - 1316 AD), author of a work in 50 volumes entitled: “at-Tadkira al-Kindivya”. Cf. Ziriklî, vol. V, pp. 174-175

78) to, Damascus in 130; (G): to Damascus and in 130...

79) V.s.i. in (B).

80) Rocks (A and G) : of.

31) V.s.i. in (B and G)

32) V.s.i. in (G)

33) V.s.i. in (B)

84) during the catastrophic earthquake + (G): and during.

70) This is most likely the one in Damascus.

85) V.s.i. in (B)

71) Alexandria, a port of Egypt, is located at 30° 21' N. lat., 29° 51' long. This is the famous lighthouse located at the northeastern tip of the Island; its height was 135 m. "The Pharos [i.e. the Lighthouse of Alexandria] is reported to have been damaged by earthquakes and restored several times during the Muslim period." "A large part of the building collapsed in 724 AH/1324 AD." Cf. Rhuvon Guest, E.I., p. 570

87) In the margin of another copy, we read: "Maççîça, locality of ash-Shâm: it is not Maççîçiyya (according to Mukhtâr aç-Çi'âh').

72) This is the ancient Greek city of Mopsuestia and the current Missis, located at 37° lat. on the right bank of the river Djaihan (Pyramus which watered ancient Cilicia, currently called Djihon), a stronghold and important frontier town located 12 miles from the Mediterranean and equipped with a wall pierced by five gates. It consisted of two towns, Kafarbayya on the left bank and Miççîça on the right bank, joined by a stone bridge; [note that a village in the suburbs of Damascus bears the same name]. "Al-Mansur had the city wall restored in 140 AH (757-58 AD) after it had been damaged by an earthquake the previous year [139 AH/5 June 756 - 24 May 757] (not mentioned by as-Suyut'î). In 187 (803), an earthquake devastated the city." On 13 Haziran 1122 Sel (811 AD), a major earthquake destroyed the city walls and many houses and three neighboring villages (not mentioned by as-Suyutl); near al-MassÎsa, the flow of the Jaihan was stopped for about a week, so that the boats were left stranded." "In 245 [859, i.e. either interval 8 April-31 December 859], the city was again ravaged by an earthquake (cited by as-Suyût'i) which destroyed several localities in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Cilicia (citing al-Ya'kûbî, III, 1440)". "The great earthquake of 1144 AD destroyed al-Massissa as well as several other cities in Cilicia and Syria". (This is most likely the one cited by as-Suyût'î and dated 29 May 1144). "The region of al-Massissa was tested by an earthquake in 1269 AD, (al-Suyût'î, in Docum. arm., II, 1906, p. 772, rem. next,). Cf. E. Honigmann, E.I., vol. III, pp. 591-96.

72 bis) That is sixty minutes.

73) It is the vast region of east-north-east of Iran, which includes the large cities of Balkh (Bactres), Marw (Merv), Harat and Nisâbûr.

74) This is the ancient Bactra, a city of Khurasan, located south of the Oxus (Jayhûn, Amu-Darya). "It was sadly renowned for its unsanitary conditions due to the multiple ramifications of the "Balkh River" (Dehas) poorly maintained” in Al-Mukaddasi, Ahsan at-Takasim fî Ma'rifat al-Alkâlim (The best distribution for the knowledge of the provinces), trans. annot. André Miguel, Damascus 1963, p. 257. Today, Balkh is a simple village in the current North Afghanistan (approximately 67° long. E, 36° 45' lat. N.).

88) In 219 + (G): The earth was shaken by an earthquake.

74 bis) Abu Bakr ibn Ismâ'îl ibn Nah'h'às ad-Dimashqî (...-862/... 1458), Zirikli, al-A'lam, vol. VI. p. 284.

75) Muslim theologian, jurist and traditionist, (164-241/ 780-855), founder of one of the four great Sunni schools: the H'anbalite school: "he also profoundly marked Islam both in its historical development and in its contemporary renewal." He had refused to adhere to the dogma of the creation of the Koran, contrary to orthodoxy [which H'anbal supported]; this is why he was summoned to appear before the 'Abbâsid Caliph al-Mu'taçim [al-Ma'mun] (defender of the Mu'tazilite school) in Ramadan 219 (date on which the darkness and the earthquake in question had occurred); he persisted in denying this dogma and then received a flogging. It seems that the earthquake relating to Ibn H'anbal and that of 219, cited previously, are one and the same. Cf. H. Laoust, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 281.

89) V.s.i. in (B).

76) The author clearly errs by exaggeration; by "world" one should perhaps consider only the country of Iraq

90) Farghana; (B): Far'àna.

77) Region south of the upper course of the Sayh'ûn (river of ash-Shâsh, Iaxarte or Sir-Darya), in Turkistan [JW: currently mostly in Uzbekistan]. It is 300 km long and 70 km wide. Balâdhurî (late 9th century) and Ist'akhrî (around 950 AD), mentioned the existence, in this region, of several populated localities. Several geographers of the 4th/ 10th century noted "that the villages in Farghâna were larger than anywhere else in Transoxiana and sometimes had a length of a day's march." Cf. W. Barthold - [B. Spuler], E.I., 2nd ed., pp. 809-810

91) The following year; (B): the year preceding it.

78) In manuscript B: the year preceding it; the copyist's error is obvious, the terms "follows and precedes" having in Arabic, a similar spelling.

92) Al-Ahwaz; (G): al-Ahwar; (D): al-Ahwan

79) It is a province of the Abbasid Empire, whose limits coincide with today's Khuzestan. Its capital had the same name (31° 91' N. lat. and 48° 46' E. long.). Cf. E. Streck, E.I., vol. I, p. 212

93) In 233; (B and D): in 230.

94) V.s.i. in (B and G).

95) That is to say in 232, as is evident from what precedes and what follows.

96) notably; (B) and.

97) V.s.i. in (A).

98) al-'Awâçim: strongholds located between H'alab and Antâkia, Cf. Yâqût, Vol. IV, p. 165. In the margin of another copy, we read; al-'Awâçim, whose capital is Antioch, Cf. al-Qâmûs, Vol. IV, p. 151.

99) 33, c.a.d. in 233, as is evident from what precedes and from what follows.

100) and he said again; (G): and.

101) The 11th; in another copy: the 21st.

102) A quarter of the mosque was torn to pieces; (B): the great mosque was shredded.

103) V.s.i. in (D); we read, in the margin, in another copy: al-Ghût'a, city of Damascus or its district. Cf. al-Qamûs, T. II, p. 377.

104) Dârayyâ, one of the villages of Damascus.

80) The year 230, mentioned in manuscripts B and D, seems more probable, as-Suyût'i having adopted in his treatise, the chronological order. Moreover, he cited, infra, an earthquake which affected the same city of Damascus in the year 233.

81) Damascus (36° 18' long. E and 33° 30' lat. N). Towards the middle 8th century AD, its plan was substantially the same as in the Roman period; then, from the 10th century AD, "this plan breaks up into multiple watertight compartments". Cf. detailed study, in Sauvaget, "Outline of a history of the city of Damascus", Revue des etudes Islamiques, 1934, N. Elisséeff, Dimashk, E.I. 2nd ed., 290.

82) Refers to the northern part of the territory between the Tigris and the Euphrates, hence the name Jazira (island); in fact, the territory in question extends northward beyond the upper course of the Tigris (al-Jazira is on the northern and northeastern side bordering Armenia) and also includes a variable strip extending both on the left bank of the Tigris and on the right bank of the Euphrates; on the eastern side, it borders Adharbaydjân and to the west of Syria; on the southern side, it borders Iraq from a line running from Takrit to Anbar (Anbar, a city on the left bank of the Euphrates, located at 43° 43' E, 33° 22' 30" N, 62 km from Baghdad; Takrit, a city on the right bank of the Tigris north of Samarra). It was divided into three main provinces : Diyâr Bakr, Diyâr Mud'ar and Dyâr Rabî'a. During the 'Abbasid era, al-Mawçil was sometimes detached from the government of the Jazira. The province was also sometimes included in a larger whole. Bordering Armenia was often united with it or sometimes united only with Diyâr Bakr. (The name of Jazîrat ibn 'Umar is also given to a city located on the right bank of the middle Tigris at 42° 11' long. E and 37° 20' lat. N). Cf. Marius Canard, Jazîra, E.I., 2nd ed., pp. 536-537.

83) Mosul, capital of Diyâr Rabî'a and of the Jazîra (this metropolis = miçr, takes its name, "the confluence", from the meeting in a single bed of several arms of the Tigris) situated on the right bank of the Tigris opposite the ancient Nineveh; the city dominated the river and, according to Ibn Il'awqal, there were approximately 60 cubits between the river level and the ground of the city; geographers give it the shape of a "t'ailasân" (elongated rectangle). Around 985-86 AD, it was, according to al-Maqdisi, arranged in a semicircle. The majority of the houses were built of tuff or marble; their roofs were domed. Cf. Honigmann, E.I., vol. III, pp. 650-51; Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie de H'amdanides [H'amdanid Dynasty]..., vol. I, pp. 117-121.

84) This is Shams ad-Dîn Abû 'Abd-Allah Muh'ammad b. 'Uthman b. Kaymaz b. 'Abd-Allah al-Turkumânî al-Fariqî ad-Dimashqî al-Shafi'i, Arab historian and theologian, born in Damascus, or in Mayya-farikin, in 673 or 74-748 or 53 AH/1274-1348 or 52-53 AD. He excelled in three disciplines: Tradition, Law and History. The work in question is "Tarikh al-Islam" which is his major work (published in Cairo from 1367/1947-8). The work consists of a history of Islam beginning with the genealogy of the Prophet and ending in 700/1300-1; its value lies in the "narration of events neglected by Ibn al-Athîr in his Kamil "(M. Ben Cheneb [De Somogyi], E.I., 2nd ed., pp. 221-222..

85) It is in 232. The copyist omitted this time and often thereafter the hundreds figure, logically so as not to have to quote it several times in a row.

86) A term which of course has a restrictive meaning: it concerns the Muslim world (Dar al-Islâm), to which, however, must be added a fringe of a certain depth extending along the borders into non-Muslim territory.

87) This is the Muslim West: Spain (Al-Andalus), Morocco, Algeria (central Maghreb), Tunisia (Ifriqya) and Tripolitania Cyrenaica (Barqa).

88) This is ancient Emesa and the present-day H'oms (36° long. E. and 34° 20' lat. N.). Ya'qûbî, in the 9th century, reported it as one of the largest cities in Syria. Cf. Dussaud, Topographie historique de la Syrie amtique et medievale, Paris, 1927, p. 104. N. Elisséeff, Hims, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 409.

89) Name given to a portion of the border area that stretched between the Byzantine Empire and the Muslim Empire to the North and North-East of Syria. Ath-Tughûr (border places) is the name given to the most advanced places in the area, al-'Awâçim (the protectors) designating the places located further back, and constituting fallback centers (the most important being Antioch). Some places were erected in ''Awâçim in 786 AD, by Hârûn ar-Hashid; they are: Manbig (the ancient Bambyce or Hierapolis of Syria), Duluk (the ancient Doliché), Ant'akia... Ibn Khurdadbih mentions other al-'Awâçim, including Bâlis (the ancient Barbalissus) ; Ibn H'awqal cites Sumaysât (the ancient Samosata) and Ibn Shaddâd mentions among other names: Baghras (the ancient Pagrae), Rab'ân, Kurus, Kaysûm, Kal'at Najm, Artah, Tall 'Abbasin... On a delimitation of the territory of the Awâçim, Cf. Marius Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie de H'amdanides [H'amdanid Dynasty]..., pp. 226-235. The region of the Thughûr and the Awâçim was conquered by Nicephorus Phocas in 969 AD; the term Awâçim, as a purely geographical expression, continued to be used at the time of the Crusades and the Mamluks, by Arab geographers. Cf. Marius Canard, E.I., 2nd ed., pp. 783-84.

89 bis) The 21st of Rabi' II corresponds to a Sunday; this date is therefore to exclude.

90) Are these the cut stones from the church of Saint John in Damascus which had been reused for the construction of the mosque from the same city? Cf. N. Elisséeff, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 289.

91) This is the irrigated area surrounding Damascus, between the mountains and the eastern lakes. Today, Ghouta only refers to the garden regions. Cf. Dussaud, Topographie historique de la Syrie antique et medievale..., p. 293.

92) Village of the Ghût'a of Damascus, 8 km to the South-West of it; "it is known in the Syriac texts under the name of Dara of Sham and in the Christian Greek texts under the form Daraia". Cf. Dussaud, Topographie historique de la Syrie..., p. 297.

93) Large village located southeast of Damascus, at a distance of 1/2 farsakh [farsang?] (3 km.). Cf. Yâqût, Mu'jam al-Buldan, vol. VIII, p. 47.

94) Al-Aliha = the idols. This village of Ghûta, which is nevertheless quite famous (Abraham is shown breaking his father's idols; a fairly large church was there) does not appear on the maps. According to Ibn Jubaïr and Ibn Bat't'ût'a, it is located to the East, more precisely to the North East of Damascus, between the latter and Berzé. It seems, in reality, to have been a suburb of the city; [another locality, bearing the same name, is located to the East of Rasheiya and is obviously to be excluded]. Cf. Dussaud, Topographie historique de la Syrie antique et medievale..., p. 295; al-Muqaddasi, Ah'san at-Takasim fi ma'rifat al-Akâlîm, trad. annot. André Miquel, Damascus, 1963, p. 261.

95) Open-air mosque (open to the sky) outside the walls

106) Harât: in the margin we read another copy: Harât, city of Khurâsân and city of Fars. Cf. Al-Qâmûs, T. IV, p. 407.

96) City in western Afghanistan (34° 22' lat. N., 62° 9' long. E.). This is the ancient Alexandria in Aria. Ist'akhri and Ibn H'awqal (10th century ) note that the city had very extensive suburbs. [It is also a small locality in Fars to the east of Ist'akhr; Cf. Le Strange, The Lands of the Eastern Caliphate, Cambridge, 1905, p. 287]; it is very probably the first city which is concerned.

97) Tiberias (modern Tveryah), a city in Palestine, located on the western shore of Lake Kinneret or the Sea of Galilee). Al-Muqaddasi notes, around 985 AD, that the city, which is located between the mountain and the sea, "stretched in length for about a farsang" (6 km); its width is very restricted. Al-Muqaddasi Ah'san at-Takasim..., p. 177. This city suffered an earthquake in 1759 and then another in 1837, which was more violent and destroyed a large part of this city. Cf. Fr. Buhl, E.I., pp. 609-610

107) An earthquake shook T'abariyya [Tiberias] to the point that the ground moved [shifted] and in 240 - (G).

108) V.s.i. in (A, B and G).

109) V.s.i. in (G).

98) City of Ifrlqya (Tunisia) considered by al-Muqaddasi as one of the great Muslim metropolises (Mier).

110) The Maghrib was shaken by an earthquake; thirteen villages [in the suburbs] of al-Qayrawân disappeared underground. And in 242 — (B).

111) in Qâshân and ar-Rayy; (G); in Qâsan and az-Zayy.

112) for a man to enter it; (A, B, D): for a foot to enter it.

113) The village as-Sawdâ'; (B and D): village as-Sawîd; as-Sawdâ': district of H'ims [Homs ?].

114) was bombarded; (B): was shaken by an earthquake.

115) V.s.i. in (B).

99) City of Tunisia, located at 36° 47' 39" lat. N. and 7° 51' long. E; This is the ancient Tynes; in the 8th and 9th centuries (Aghlabid dynasty), it was counted among the important cities. Cf. H. Brunshvig, E.I., vol. IV, pp. 881-82.

100) Corresponds to the South-West of the Arabian peninsula; it is the Happy Arabia of the ancients. Ibn H'awqal (10th century) places the northern limit of Yaman south of at'-Tâ'if; once detached from the 'Abbasid empire, al-Yaman had a much larger area restricted. Cf. Adolph Grohmann, E.I., vol. IV, p. 1219.

101) This is the Persis of the Greeks, corresponding to the south-east of present day Persia. It is limited to the north-west by Khuzistan (the ancient Susiana), to the north by al-Jiba1 (or 'Irâq al-'Ajam, cf. infra note 150); to the east by Kirmân (the ancient Karmania) and to the west and south-west by the Persian Gulf. Fars was, in the 9th century, larger than in the past: its limits extended to the north-east, beyond the city of Yazd (a city of 'Irâq al-'Ajam; formerly called Katha); to the north, they passed to the south of Isbahân (see infra). Cf. L. Lockhart, E.I., 2nd ed., pp. 830-31.

102) Important city of Khurâsan, situated at 55° long E and 36° 30' lat. N.; this is the current Bostam.

103) City in the region of al-Jibâl (ancient Media); was built of bricks. Cf. Yâqût, Mu'jam..., vol. VII, p. 109.

104) Town in the same region, 12 farsakh [JW: parsang ?] (= 72 km) from Qumm. It was destroyed by an earthquake during the reign of Wakil Karim Khân Zend who rebuilt it (end of the 18th century). Cf. Cl. Huart, E.I., p. 834.

105) This is ancient Raghes; its ruins are still visible 8 km SSE of Tehran. "The Greek folk etymologies that explain the name Ragha as referring to earthquakes must reflect the frequency of this phenomenon in this region" Içt'akhri notes that this city occupied an area of 1.5 by 1.5 farsakh and that the buildings were made of rammed earth (but also of bricks and plaster). Cf. V. Minorsky, E.I., pp. 1182-1183.

106) Name designating the ancient province of Hycarnia, in the south-east of the Caspian Sea; it corresponds, roughly, to the current province of Astarabadh; it also designates the city located in this same region; this was divided into two parts, Andarhaz (current Gurgân): on the east side was the city itself, called Shahristan; on the west side, was the suburb of Bakrabadh; it was destroyed by the Mongols. In the 14th century, a pile of ruins. The location in the angle formed by the confluence of the Gurgân and the Khurmârûd, is indicated today only by a pile of rubble still unexploited. Cf. R. Hartmann, JA Boyle, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 1108.

107) One of the four great cities of Khurâsan. The city suffered other earthquakes including those of 540/1145 and 679/1208 not mentioned by as-Suyût'î. Yâqût visited the city in 613 (1216) and again noted the damage caused to the city by the earthquake of 1145; that of 1208 was also very violent: "the inhabitants fled to the plain downstream and remained there for several days". After each earthquake, the inhabitants rebuilt the city on another site. The current city of Naïsâbûr is located at 36° 12' lat. N. and 58° 40' long. E. Cf. E. Honigmann, E.I., pp. 992-93.

108) A city located between Tehran and Mashhad, 344 km east of the former. Here is the oldest surviving mosque in Iran, the Târikhâna (3rd-10th century). Cf. DN Wilber, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 109.

109) Region located south of the Caspian Sea, bordered to the east by Djurdjân; corresponds to present-day Mazandaran. Cf. Muqaddasi Ah'san at-Tagâslm..., p. 331.

110) This city, located in the middle of a region irrigated by the Zende-Rud, was formerly composed of two juxtaposed cities: Djayy, which would later be the location of the city itself and Yahûdiyya which would have been a creation of Nebuchadnezzar; Ibn Lodda notes that the diameter of the city, which had a circular plan, measured 6,000 cubits = 1/2 farsakh = 3 km. Cf. Huart, E.I., p. 563.

111) In manuscripts B and D: "the width of the crack is that which can allow a foot to enter it.

112) In Yâqût, this name designates only a village in one of the districts of H'ims. Cf. Mu'jam, vol. V, p. 167. None of the Arab geographers that we have been able to consult cites this toponym; Yâqût clearly indicates that the territory of the city of Miçr [Old Cairo, see following note] includes a very large number of villages, but does not cite any. Cf. Mu'jam, vol. VIII, p. 72; As-Sawdâ' must probably be one of these villages. [Let us note that there is a locality named Kharibat as-Sawdâ, situated in the south of Arabia, Cf. A. Grohmann, E.I., p. 194].

113) Miçr, a generic name designating a Muslim metropolis. Before the founding of al-Qâhira (Cairo) in 359-969, Miçr, which is referred to here, designated the city of al-Fustât' (later called Old Cairo). This name also designates Egypt as a country. Here, we are referring to the city itself. Cf. AJ Wensinck, E.I., vol. III, pp. 590-91.

114) The Rit'l is a unit of weight weighing 12 ûqiya (ounces), each ûqiya weighs 50 dirhams (Kaïl dirhams or shar'i, unit of weight weighing 2.931 g). The meteorite in question would thus weigh; 2.931 x 600 x 10 = 17.586 Kgs = 17.6 kgs. Cf. M. Gaudefroy Dernombynes, La Syrie à l'époque des Mamelouks,, p. 136; Zambaur, E.I., vol. IV, p. 1006; D. Eustache, Etudes de numismatique et de métrologie musulmanes (II), Hespéris Tamuda, vol. X, fasc. 1-2, Rabat, 1969, note 17, p. 149.

115) This is Aleppo, an important city in Syria, which had received the name of Boroea during the Macedonian conquest, located at 38° 68'5" long. E. and 40° 12' lat. N. At the time of al-Muqaddasi, its fortified enclosure still had the appearance of the roughly regular quadrilateral of the Seleucid period. In 363 (October 2, 973 - September 20, 974), A'zaz (originally Tell A'zaz), located 45 km northwest of Aleppo and capital of a territory comprising nearly 300 towns, was destroyed by an earthquake (not mentioned by as-Suyut'i). Aleppo was the scene of other earthquakes, particularly violent in the 19th century. Cf. M. Sobernheim, E.I., p. 242-3; J. Sauvaget, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 87; R. Dussaud, Topographie historique de la Syrie antique et medievale..., pp. 472-473; M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides...., vol. I, pp. 221-222 and 225.

117) V.s.i. in (B).

118) V.s.i. in (G).

119) V.s.i. in (B).

120) V.s.i. in (B).

121) we heard — (B).

122) Tinnîs: island in the sea of Egypt. near the coast, located between al-Farama and Damietta. Yâqût, vol. II, p. 51.

123) as-Sinn: city located on the banks of the Euphrates, above Takrit, Yâqût, Vol. III, p. 269.

124) ar-Ruhâ. Yâqût transcribed it with a terminal Hamza: ar-Ruha'.

125) V.s.i. in (A and G).

126) V.s.i. in (A); in another copy: none of its population remained...

127) V.s.i. in (G).

128) Bâlisn, a locality of ash-Shâm. situated between H'alab and ar-Raqqa (Yâqût).

116) Yaqut gives the following details about the enclosure of Antioch: "it had 360 towers and was guarded in turn by 400 guards". Cf. Yaqut, Mu'jam, vol. I, p. 345. It was 12 miles long and was built of stone.

117) The lower course of the Orontes or Nahr Ant'âkia, has several small tributaries located on the right bank around Ant'âkia. Cf. Dussaud, Topographie historique de la Syrie antique et medievale..., map IX, B 1.

118) City located on the island of the same name, in the Damietta region.

119) A town on the Euphrates, north of Takrit, and which is most probably the town in question. It was located a short distance from the Jabal Barimma range, which is the eastern continuation of the Tigris, of the Jabal Makk'û1 and for this reason was called Sinn Barimma. According to E. Herzfeld, the location of Sinn would be near the ford of the village of chajara (the tree). [There is also a stronghold of the same name, in the province of al-Jazira, near Sumaysât, the ancient Samosata, and nicknamed Sinn Ibn 'Ut'aïr; As-Sinn also designates a place in the region of ar-Rayy, a mountain in Medina, near Mount Uh'ud, and another mountain behind Qarmisin, near Dînawar]. Cf. Yâqût, Mu'djam, vol. V, pp. 153-54. M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides..., vol. I, p. 126

120) Capital of Diyâr Mud'ar in al-Jazira; it is the ancient Kallinikos. The name of the city means low and marshy land; it is located in the angle formed by the meeting of the Euphrates and the Balikh, on the west bank of the latter. In 155 AH/772 AD, a new city, ar-Ràfiqa, was built near ar-Raqqa by the Caliph al-Mançûr (its plan was in the shape of a horseshoe). The new city eventually took the name of ar-Raqqa, while a borough linked the two cities; this urban complex was then called: ar-Raqqatân (the two Raqqas). In the 13th century, the old ar-Raqqa had fallen into ruins. The ruins of ar-Râfiqa "form, towards the North, a semicircle, while to the South, they follow in a straight line the old bank of the Euphrates ". Cf. Honjgman. E.I., pp. 1185-87 ; M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides..., vol. I, pp. 90 91.

121) This is the ancient Carrhae, another city of Diyâr Mud'ar, situated on the upper course of the Balikh, 4 farsakh downstream from Edessa (see below). Destroyed in the 14th century; currently in ruins. The city, oblong in shape, had a perimeter of approximately 4,000 m. Cf. G. Fehervari, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 235; M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides..., vol. I, pp. 93-94.

122) Yâqût transcribes it thus: Ra'su 'Aïn, a city of al-Jazira. This is the ancient Resain-Theodosiopolis, a city of al-Jazira, 50 km south of Tell Mauzan and 15 parasangs (90 km) east of Harrân, situated on the Khabur, at the confluence of the Jirjib and another river called Balija; it was known for its numerous springs (360 in number). It was built of stone and surrounded by a rampart and situated on the boundary of Diyâr Mud'ar and Diyâr Rabi'a; it was sacked by Timur towards the end of the 14th century. Cf. M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides.... vol. I, pp. 97-98.

123) Yâqût adds a hamza at the end: Ruhâ'. Important city of Diyâr Mud'ar, in al-Jazira. It is the ancient Osrhoene and the current Urfa (in Greek Edessa). It is located at 62° 50' long. E. and 37° 40' lat. N. The city was surrounded by a double wall of walls (At the time of Abu l-Fidâ [around 1321], it was in ruins). Cf. E. Honigmann, E.I., vol. III, pp. 1062-1067.

124) This is Tarsus, an ancient Greek city, situated on the border of Asia Minor and Syria. An important stronghold in the time of Muqaddasi. It is currently a small town, situated at a certain distance from the Nahr Baradân. Cf. Fr. Bubl, E.I., vol. IV, pp. 712-13.

125) This is the ancient Greek Adana, an important stronghold located on the right bank of the Sayhan (Saros), today the center of Cilicia (37° N. lat. and 35° 18' E. long.); according to Içt'akhri, Adana was in the 10th century, defended by a wall pierced by 8 gates and a citadel on the other bank. Cf. Fr. Taeschner. E.I., 2nd ed. pp. 87-88,

126) These are the coasts of Palestine and northern Syria.

127) This is ancient Laodicea and present-day Latakia, a coastal city in Syria and a maritime border place. (The city had other ancient names: Leuké Actè, Ramitha, of Semitic appearance, and Mazabdan of Aramaic or Persian form. [Note that there is another city named "Lâdhiqiyya al-Muh'tariqa" (Latakia the Burning) which is the ancient Laodicea of Asia Minor and which owed its nickname from Antiquity to the volcanic nature of the region or to its ovens; it is current Ladik located between the ruins of Ammoriun ('Ammuriyya) and Konia (ancient Iconium)]. Cf. Dussaud, Topographie historique de la Syrie antique et medievale..., p. 412 - 15; Muqaddassl, Ah'san..., p. 296; M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides, vol. I, p. 205.

128) This toponym is not indicated in the index of place names of the Fez edition, p. 81. It is ancient Gagala (current Djeblé), a coastal city in Syria, located 30 km south of al-Lâdhiqiyya. The earthquake of 245 AH is said to have seriously damaged it. Cf. Fr. Buhl, E.I., vol. I, pp. 1011-1012

129) V.s.i. in (G).

130) V.s.i. in (B and D).

130) A city located on the east bank of the Tigris, between Baghdad and al-Baçra, more precisely between Chatt al-Hayy, branch of the Tigris (old canal linking the Tigris to the Euphrates) and the current course of the Tigris where the navigable Tigris passed in the Middle Ages, at a place where only ruins and an embryo of a Canal remain. Founded by al-Hajjâ'j ibn Yûsuf in 83-85 AH (702-705 AD); in the 10th century, it was one of the largest cities in Iraq. It is about this that the text refers. [It should be noted that several localities also bear the name of Wâsit': it is a village that was on the very site of the town of Wâsit' and which was called Wâsit' al-Kaçab, of a famous village near Balkh, of a village near Qarqîsiyya, at the place where the Khâbûr flows into the Euphrates, of a village located 3 parasangs from Baghdâd, of a village located opposite ar-Raqqa to the west of the Euphrates, finally of a village located in the region of al-Mawçil]. Cf. Yâqût, vol. VIII, pp. 384-87; M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides..., pp. 175 76; M. Streck, E.I., pp. 1188-1192.

131) Situated at 33° 26' 18" N. lat. and 44° 23' 29" E. long. The city was built mainly of raw brick. According to Ist'akhri (in 279 AH/872 AD), it was approximately 7,250 km long and 6.5 km wide. In the 9th century, its population must have been 1.5 million inhabitants. Cf. AA Duri, E.I., 2nd ed., pp. 921, 923 and 926; this author mentions other catastrophes which at the same time affected this city, pp. 926-27, in particular. Cf. detailed study in M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides..., pp. 155-174

131) people had been seized by fear; (B and • D): people died

132) Between 268 and 280, dates cited by as-Suyût'î, an earthquake occurred in Egypt, an earthquake mentioned in a work entitled: "Le Caire 969-1969" by Oleg V. Volkoff. "It was," says the author, "during the first year of his reign (this refers to the Tulunid Sovereign Khurnarawaïh ibn Ah'mad ibn T'ulûn) that Egypt was tested by an earthquake. It destroyed many houses (in al-Qat'âi') damaged the mosque of 'Amr and, in al-Fust'ât', caused the death of a thousand people. Cf. Oleg. V. Volkoff, Lee Caire 969-1969, (Publications de l'Institut Francais d'Archeologie orientale du Caire, Cairo, 1971, p. 36). The earthquake in question occurred during the first year of the reign of Kumarawaïh, that is to say from Dhû-l-Qa'da 270 to Dhû-l-Qa'da 271 1 May, 884 - 19 May, 885). Cf. E. de Zambaur, Manuel de genealogie et de chronologie pour l'histoire de l'Islam, Unveraenderter Neudruck, 1955, Bad Pyrmont, p. 93.

132) In 280; (G): In 208.

133) V.s.i. in (B).

134) fifty thousand — (G).

133) V.s.i. in (B).

133) In manuscript G: In the year 208; it is there, clearly, a copy error.

134) A city in eastern Adharbayjan, located at 48° 17' long E. and 38° 15' lat. N. Firdawsi notes that the city was founded by the Sassanid king Peroz (457-484 AD) and that it was given the name Badan Peroz or Badhan Fayruz; al-Qazwinî attributes its foundation to an earlier monarch. Cf. RN Frye, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 646.

135) This is Ismâ'îl ibn 'Umar ibn Kathîr ibn Daww ibn Der' ad-Dimashqî (701-774 AH/1302-1373 AD); the book in question is a work of history: al-Bidaya wan-Nihaya (the Beginning and the End); the work ends in the year 767. Cf. AH Zirik11, al-A'lam, vol. I, pp. 317-318.

136) Ancient port city of Sind, situated west of the Mirhan (Indus), at the head of a creek; the ruins of this city, which was destroyed, have not yet been discovered (the ruins of Bharnbora were thought to be those of ad-Daybul, but excavations at this site failed to provide conclusive proof). Cf. E.A.S. Bazmee Ansari, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 194.

137) Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon

136) (earthquakes) continued for days in al-Baçra - (D).

137) a particularly violent wind — (D).

138) V.s.i. in (B).

138) Al-Baçra was founded in Muh'arram 17 AH or in Rabi' I or II 16 AH by the Companion of the Prophet, 'Utba ibn Ghazwân. The ancient city was not located, like modern Baçra, on the banks of the Tigris, but inland, at a distance estimated at four parasangs. Its location is today partially marked on the international map of the world at 1/100,000°, near the village of az-Zubayr. The coordinates of ancient Baçra are: 45° 30' longitude E., 30° 30' lat. N. Cf. Ch. Pellat, Le milieu basrien et la formation de Gahiz, Paris, 1953, pp. 2-3, p. 4 (note 4) and p. 7.

139) It is most likely the month of Ramad'an of the year 289 [August 9 - September 7, 902]. Did this happen in al-Baçra or in Baghdad ?

140) 'Arafât (a plain about 21 km east of Mecca, on the road to at'-Ta'if) is the place where the central ceremonies of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca take place. The day of 'Arafât corresponds to 9 Dhû-l-H'ijja; as the year in question seems to be still 289, 9 Dhû-l-H'ijja corresponds to 14 November 902 AD.

141) These are burnouses lined with fur. Cf. R. Dozy, Supplement aux dictionnaires arabes, vol. I, p. 292.

142) Did this same phenomenon also take place at H'ims ?

143) This is the historian Ali ibn Muh'ammad ibn 'Abd Al-Karîm ibn 'Abd Al-Wâh'id Ash-Shibanî Al-Jazari, abû 1-H'asan 'Izz ad-Din ibn al-Athîr (555-630 AH/1160-1233 AD); he resided in al-Mawçil; he is the author of al-Kâmil, a work of history in 12 volumes (published in Egypt in 1303 AH) where the last year cited is 629 A.M. Cf. Zirikli, al-A'lam, vol. V, p. 153 and vol. X, p. 23rd

139) V.s.i. in (B).

140) large quantity of water; (B): a large river.

144) City of al-Jibâl, now in ruins; these ruins are located at 34° 35' N. lat. and 47° 26' E. long.. Under Mu'âwiyya, it received the name of Mah-kufa (which is also the name of two districts of al-Jibâ1). Cf. Loekhart, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 307.

141) V.s.i. in (G).

145) Nasâ, a name known from several cities: one in Khurâsân, another in Fars, another in Qirmân, another still in Farghâna and a last one in Hamadhan. Cf. Yâqût, Mu'jam al-Buldan, vol. VIII, pp. 282-283; V. Minorsky, E.I. pp. 904-5

142) by 44 we want to indicate 344, as is evident from what precedes and what follows. I make the same assumption for the years by "45", "46" and "47".

143) a severe earthquake; (G): a very violent (and) severe earthquake.

146) This is most likely Egypt proper.

144) V.s.i. in (B) and in another copy.

147) It is a city in central Iran, located south of Mount Alwand (48° 31' long. E, 34° 48' lat. N.). In Armenian documents it bears the names of Ahmatan and Hamatan; (Ahmetà in the Bible). It was destroyed several times in ancient times. The earthquake took place in 956 [April 15-December 31, 956], as indicated by RN Frye, in E.I., 2nd ed., p. 108, Cf. RN Frye, E.I., 2nd ed., pp. 107-108.

148) This is Farthad u-Shîrin, Christian favorite of the Sasânid king of Iran Khusraw II Parvîz (590-628 AD). Her palace, the ruins of which still exist today, was located in the locality of the same name, which is located next to Qarmîsin, between H'alwân and Hamadhân. Cf. A. Zajaczkowski, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 812; Yâqût, Mu'jam, vol. VII, p. 202.

144 bis) V.s.i. in (G).

145) V.s.i. in (G).

146) V.s.i. in (B).

147) V.s.i. in (G).

148) V.s.i. in (G).

149) V.s.i. in (G).

150) V.s.i. in (B).

149) Name given to two cities: one of them is located in Tukharistan, between Balkh and Maru al-Rudh (3 days' march from the latter); was destroyed in 617 AH (1220 AD), by Cinggiz-Khan; its ruins are near Cacaktû; the other is a city of Daylam and is located between Qazwîn and Abhar: it is about it that the text is talking; indeed, as-Suyût'i places the seismic activity of the year 345 in ar-Rayy which is close to the city of Daylam. Cf. Cl. Huart, E.I., vol. IV, p. 672

151) V.s.i. in (A, G and B).

152) al-Jibâis: region located between Isfahàn and Kazvetn; Cf. Mu'jam al-Buldân, vol. II, p. 99.

153) V.s.i. in (A).

149 bis) City whose location is at the entrance to the Zagros passes (existed at the time of the Assyrians); currently in ruins. It is located on the left bank of the H'ulwâncai, south of Ser-i Pul. It is still recognizable by the ruins of a building from the Sasanian period, called T'âq-i Girra. "Geographers still attach it to 'Irâq 'Arabi, but more commonly to the province of Jibâls". This city suffered from several earthquakes. In the 8th century AH it was in ruins. Cf. Cl. Huart, E.I., vol. II, pp. 354-55.

150) Term designating the Iranian high plateau (ancient Media) which is the region in question. It also received the name of 'Irâq 'Ajamî to distinguish it from al-'Irâq which corresponds to lower Mesopotamia; its name comes from the fact that it is very mountainous. Its borders changed constantly. Shwarz showed that at different times, the extension of these mountains went very far into Persia. [This is also the ancient Arabic name for the portion of Arabia Petraea which is located south of the Wadi H'asa]. Cf. J. Sourdel-Thomine, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 548 Shwarz P., Iran im Mittelalter, vol. VI, p.853.

151) At the same time as the above-mentioned cities or at another time of the year 347 AH ?

154) V.s.i. in (B).

155) V.s.i. in (B).

156) V.s.i. in (B).

157) of which + (B): this verse.

158) V.s.i. in (B).

159) B: Tahdhib at'-T'alibin.

160) as I will indicate later: cf. pp. 31-32 (of the edition of Fez).

152) This is Abû-l-Misk Kafur, Khadim of Ikhshid. The earthquakes in question took place during his reign, that is to say between 11 Muh'arram 355 and 20 Jumâdà I 357/January 7, 966 - April 22, 968. Cf. Zambaur, Manuel de genealogie..., p. 93.

153) It seems that in this case it is Egypt proper

161) V.s.i. in (B and G).

162) In 393 -- (A and B): in 300

163) In 393 — (A and B): in 300.

164) V.s.i. in (G)

153 bis) A and B give “300”; this is clearly a copying error.

154) We divide the Thughûr (places - borders) into Syrian Thughûr (Shâmiyya), Mesopotamian (Jazariyya), then the Thughûr Bekrites, those which touch the Diyâr Bakr. Among the Bekrit Thughûr we distinguish: al Hattakh, Hâni, Malkin (current Melken or Melikian), Dai'at al-Qass, Hubâb, al-Ardîs, Kharaba (the former Asmosate), H'içn riyad, H'içn Thû-l-Qarnaïn. Among the Thughûr Jazariyya (these were located between Mar'ach and Malat'ya: this region was also designated under the name of ad-Durûb, the defiles), we can cite: Malat'ya, Qalandhya, Zibat'ra (ancient Sozopotra and the current Viranchevir), H'içn Mansûr, Kaisun (current Kosun), Hadath... Cf. M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides..., vol. I, pp. 243-286.

165) V.s.i. in (G)

166) Shîrâz: this transcription is found in all the copies; it is undoubtedly Shayzar, because it is this city which is located near the sea and not Shirâz.

155) All the copies used for the Fez edition give "Shirâz"; this toponym corresponds to two cities, one in Khurâsân, the other in Fars (in the Zagros) and are therefore to be excluded, because the first is too continental and the second is too far from the Persian Gulf. It is therefore more likely Shayzar, a city of Shâm, close to the Mediterranean coast; it is the Cesare or Sisare of the Greco-Latin sources (Larissa at the time of Seleucus) and the current Sejar. It is located in a loop of the Orontes at 61° 10' long. E. and 31° 50' lat. N.; the medieval upper town (which was called balad, praesidium among the Franks) was located inside the fortress (h'isn), the lower town (madina - 13th century, Suburbium) was on the south side of the Nahr al-'Açî. "It is curious to note, in the midst of Arab civilization, the survival of the process of building walls in bricks simply dried in the sun." Cf. M. Gaudefroy-Demombynes, la Syrie a l'epoque des Mameluks, Paris, 1923, p. 89: M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides de Jazira et de Syrie..., vol. I, Alger, 1951, pp. 209-210: Honigman, E.I., vol. IV, p. 298: Yâqût, Mu'jam, vol. V, pp. 322 and 324: R. Dussaud, Topographie historique de la Syrie antique et medievale..., pp. 199-200.

167) V.s.i. in (A)

168) In 386 -- (G): six.

156) This is the Fatimid ruler al-H'akim, Abû 'Ali al-Mançûr. He reigned from 29 Ramad'ân 386 to 27 Shawwâ1 411/15 October 996 - 13 February 1021; Cf. Zambaur, Manuel de genealogie..., p. 94. The earthquake in question had to, since the earthquakes are mentioned in chronological order, have occurred between 398 (date of the last earthquake cited) and Shawwâl 411; the one that affected Shalzar, must have occurred either in 398 AH, or between 398 and 411 AH.

157) Ah'mad ibn Yah'yâ ibn Fad'l Allâh al-Qurashl al-'Adwi al-'Umari (700-749 AH/1301-1349 AD), historian; lived in Damascus; the work in question is Masalik al-Abcar fi Mamalik al-Amcar (vol. I, published in Egypt in 1342/1924). Cf. Zirikli, al-A'lam, vol. I, p. 254 and vol. X, p. 344.

158) This is the land of Egypt.

159) There follow two verses composed by Muh'ammad abu al-Qasim ibn 'Acim, a poet in the service of Al-Hâkim and which are almost identical to the previous ones.

159 bis) The copyist omitted to cite the hundreds and tens digits.

169) causing much destruction; 913: destruction of buildings.

170) V.s.i. in (G).

171) V.s.i. in (G).

172) al-Bâdân = Yâqût notes that al-Bâdân is one of the villages of Samarqand, and it is said, of Bukharà.

173) V.s.i in (B and G).

160) It is the capital of Palestine (39 km west-northwest of Jerusalem), a new city founded by the governor of Palestine, Sulayman (674-718 AD), brother of the Umayyad sovereign al-Walid. It covered an area of one square mile; its buildings were built of cut stone and clay bricks. The main mosque or al-Jâmi' al-Akbar is the one that was torn to pieces; it stood in the market square. Cf. E. Honigmann, E.I., vol. II, pp. 1193-94.

161) This is the al-Aqsâ Mosque in Jerusalem.

162) This term refers to the Mih'râb of the esplanade of the al-Aqsâ Mosque in Jerusalem, which is rather poorly located; it also refers to an oratory in the citadel of Jerusalem, sometimes called the Tower of David (Burg David in popular tradition); "Mas'ûdî (10th century) knows the oratory of David or Mih'râb Dâwud, built by this king in Jerusalem and which still existed at the time of the historian; it is, he says, the highest building in the city (its height is 50 pieces of stone and its width 30); from there one could see the Dead Sea and the Jordan; it is apparently the citadel or tower of David", Cf. R.P.A.S. Marmarji, Textes géographiques arabes sur la Palestine, Paris, 1951, p. 214.

163) Town in southern Palestine also called al-Khalil, H'abrân, H'abra [JW: aka Hebron]. "There is a fortress, with a stone dome in its center, built over the tomb of Abraham. The enclosure has been transformed into a mosque and dwellings have been built around it for the Pilgrims, which are one with the central building." Cf. E. Honigmann, E.I., p. 936; al-Muqaddasi, paragraph 179, p. 199-200.

164) This locality (we could not locate it) is in Sham). , as-Suyut'i situates the seismic activity of the year 425 AH in this same country.

165) This is the ancient 'Azza [JW: aka Gaza or Gaza City], located in the southwestern part of Judea, 4 km from the sea. Ibn Ha'awqal and al-Muqaddasi present it in the 10th century as a large city with a beautiful main mosque. Cf. Fr. Buhl, E.I., vol. II, p. 168.

166) Nabulus (Nablus), a town in central Palestine 50 km north of Jerusalem; takes its name from Flavia Neapolis; the Old Testament mentions the town of Shechem at about the same place. Cf. Fr. Buhl, E.I., p. 860.

167) Badan at Yaqut; it is one of the villages of Samarqand or also of Bukhara. Yaqut, Mu'jam, vol. II, p. 29. Badan (with a long â) which is the one mentioned by as-Suyut'î, is a village of Sham (which has not been able to be delimited), due to the fact that all the seismic activity of the year 425 AH concerns this same country (Egypt was also affected, but all the places mentioned by as-Suyut'î are located in Shâm).

174) V.s.i. in (B).

175) four hundred - (B).

176) V.s.i. in (G).

177) 50,000. In another copy: about 50,000.

168) Tibrîz according to Yâqût; it is the capital of the Persian province of Adharbaïdjan to the east of Lake Urmiya. This city has often been affected by earthquakes; the most violent occurred in 244 AH (858, i.e. the interval 19 April - 31 December 858) (an earthquake not mentioned by as-Suyût'î), in 434 AH (1042, i.e. the interval 21 August - 31 December 1042), (year mentioned by as-Suyût'i; this earthquake was supposedly predicted by the astronomer Abû T'ahir Shirâzî), in 1641, in 1727; other earthquakes occurred on 22-23 September 1854 and 30 October 1856; They were described from personal observations by Khanykov in Bulletin Hist. Phil. de l'Academie de St. Petersbourg, 1855, p. 251; 1858, pp. 337-52. It seems that the tremors are due to the volcanic activity of Sahand; according to Khanykov, they are rather due to "the mechanical displacement of the layers of earth." It should be noted that "the tendency of the city is to extend to the west and southwest." The name Tabriz most probably means "the one who makes heat flow" in connection with the volcanic activity of Sahand. Cf. Minorsky, E.I., vol. IV, p. 613.

168 bis) The same year, that is to say in 434 AH ?

169) The word Tadmor is attested from the 11th century BC; it is the Palmyra of the Greeks located to the North-East of Damascus, in the middle of the great desert; this city was also affected by the terrible earthquake of 1157 AD. Cf. Fr. Buhl, E.I., vol. III, p. 1090; M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides..., p. 212; Dussaud, Topographie historique de la Syrie antique et medievale..., pp. 244-50

170) It is the Heliopolis of the Greeks, a city in Lebanon; present-day Ba'albakk

178) Four hundred — (A and B).

179) V.s.i. in (B).

171) Town and citadel located at the north-eastern corner of Lake Van in the canton of Bzunik', 40 km north-east of Bitlis; this town was seriously damaged by the earthquake of 644 [May 19-December 31, 1246] (not cited by as-Suyût'i), Cf. Taeschner, E.I., 2nd ed., vol. I, p. 340; M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides..., vol. I, p. 188.

172) Name designating the northern part of the Jazîra (i.e. the upper basin of the Tigris). from the region of Si'irt and Tel Fafan to that of Arkanin, northwest of Amid (currently Diarbekir) and H'isn al-H'amma (Cermûk) west of Amid. Cf. M. Canard, Cl. Cahen, E.I. , 2nd ed., p. 353.

173) In 442 [May 26, 1050/May 14, 1051], a celestial phenomenon that seems to be correlated with an earthquake occurred in Ant'akia and which Yâqùt describes as follows:

...More than one person inside Ant'akia as well as outside it, had seen during the night of Monday 5 Ab (Jumâdà II) of the aforementioned year [October 1050] a sort of opening in the sky from which an intense light was gushing forth; this had then gone out. The next morning, people obviously commented on the event; it was later learned that at the beginning of the day on Monday, in the city of Ghunjura (Gangra, capital of Paphlagonia. Cf. Le Strange, Palestine under the Moslems, London 1890, p. 374, footnote at bottom of page), situated within the Byzantine territory, 19 days from Ant'akia, an extremely violent earthquake had occurred, followed by other tremors on the same day, In this city [Ghunjura], many buildings had collapsed; a place, situated behind it, disappeared underground; nothing remained of the great church and the small fortress that were there. From this place, a very hot and extremely abundant water flowed that drowned seventy agricultural estates. A A great number of people fled from these to the tops of mountains and high places, thus saving their lives; this water remained on the surface of the earth for seven days and spread around the city in a radius corresponding to two days' walk; subsequently, the water dried up, leaving mud in its location; a group of people who had experienced this situation told the inhabitants of Ant'akia what I have mentioned; they also told them that people were carrying their belongings to the top of the mountain; it was shaking under the violence of the earthquake, causing the luggage to fall to the ground ...
(Cf. Yaqut, Mu'jam, vol. I, pp. 355-57)

180) earthquakes; (B): an earthquake.

181) V.s.i. in (A). Arrajân: city in southern Iran.

182) V.s.i. in (B).

174) An important border town of Fars and the district of al-Ahwâz (halfway between Shirâz and the city of al-Ahwâz). "A part of the province of Arrajan formerly belonged not to Fars but to Khuzistan". The decline of this town dates from the 13th century; its ruins are located on the ruins of T'ab, present-day Ab-i Kurdistan or Mârûn) at 31° 40' N lat. and 50° 20' E long. According to Herzfeld, these ruins are located "two hours on horseback east of the town of Bihbahan, on a diversion channel of the Marun River and form a roughly rectangular area of 1200 x 800 m near to Kûh-i Bihbahan"; according to Stein "cultivation has now erased all traces of construction". As-Suyût'î notes that "the earthquakes occurred in the vicinity of Arrajân and al-Ahwaz and throughout the country", which could correspond to an area covering the northeastern part of Fars and that part of Khuzistan bordering on Fars and the region of al-Ahwaz proper. Cf. Yâqût, vol. I, p. 180; MS Streck [D.N. Willer], E.I., vol. I, 2nd ed., pp. 679-80.

174 bis) By "country" it seems that we should include Khuzistan and Fars, and probably the north-western part of the latter.

183) the night of Tuesday 10 — (A and G)

184) a violent one; (G): (of) violence.

185) (an) earthquake; (G): (some) earthquakes.

186) V.s.i. in (B).

187) V.s.i. in (B). 'Ana: locality situated between ar-Raqqa and, Hît; is part of al-Jazira. Cf. Yâqût, vol. IV, p. 72.

188) made it fall; in another copy: made it stop (the operation).

175) City of Diyâr Mudar (in Greek Anatho) on the right bank of the Euphrates, (41° 58' long. E, 34° 28' lat. N). The name still exists today, but applies to a locality extending for several kilometers on the right bank of the river; the ancient 'Anat was on an island; it had a fort overlooking the river (still mentioned in the 11th century). In the 'Abbasid era, 'Ana was part of the province of al-Jazira, very close to the border of Iraq. Cf. M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides, vol. I, p. 96; S.H. Longrigg, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 474.

176) Birtha in Ptolemy. Vira in Ammianus Marcellinus, Teghrith in Syriac literature; located on the right bank of the Tigris, north of Samarra (Surr-Man-Rà); the city which formerly had a large area was built on several hills, two of which were immediately near the Tigris, one to the north bearing the citadel, the other to the south, a little lower, constituting the city itself, the whole surrounded by walls: it is because of these two main hills that we find the name in the dual: at-Takritaïn; the city was well built in stone, lime, brick and pebbles; it was an important river port. Takrît was, until the middle of the 10th century, counted by Arab geographers, as administratively part of al-Jazira; from Maqdisî, the city is most often considered as part of al-'Irâq. Cf. J.H. Kramers, E.I., 2nd ed., vol. IV, pp. 663-64; M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides..., p. 130. The earthquake of 425 was therefore felt in almost all of Iraq and in the Ih'if and Bâdurâyâ.

190) V.s.i. in (A and G).

191) it brought down part of the enclosure of T'arâbulus [Tripoli]; (G): it brought down several parts of the enclosure of T'arâbulus [Tripoli]. V.s.i. in B and in another copy.

192) by 58: we want to indicate 458, as is evident from the above and by the following.

177) This is Tyre, located on an island (south coast of Lebanon, position rectified by the Taqwîm: 57° long. E., 33° 5' lat. N); Nâsir-i Khusraw, who visited the city in 1047 AD, noted that the houses were five and even six stories high. This city was hit by the earthquake of 552 AH/1157 AD (as-Suyût'î who mentioned this earthquake, did not mention Sur among the cities reached, nor also Sàïdà' (a city located south of Beirut) and Beirut, as well as the earthquake of 600 (1203-4) which destroyed the walls of its enclosure (as-Suyût'i did indeed cite the earthquake of 600; he indicates that the whole of the province of Shâm was shaken, but does not cite the name of any city); in 1837, Sùr also suffered an earthquake. Cf. M. Gaudefroy-Demombynes, La Syrie à l'époque des Mameluks, p. 122; E. Honigmann, E.I., vol. IV, pp. 585-87.

178) A coastal city in Palestine; it is the Ptolemais of the Greeks and the Acre of the French; mentioned as a large city by Al-Idrisi; it remained in ruins from the end of the 13th century until the middle of the 18th century, when the city was revived. Cf. Fr. Buhl, E.I., 2nd ed., pp. 351-52.

179) This is the Byzantine Empire, at least the southern fringe that runs along the border.

180) This is the Tripoli of the Greeks; the ancient city was located on the site of the current port. Nasir-i Kusraw (438 AH/1047 AD), notes that the population of the city was 200,000. In 1170, the city was badly damaged by a terrible earthquake (not mentioned by as-Suyuti). In 1289, the Sultan of the Mamluks, al-Mansour Kala'un took the city from the Christians. "He had a new Tripoli built on the summit and on the slope of the Mount of the Pilgrims; the old city was partially destroyed and became an uni

192) by 58: we want to indicate 458, as is evident from the above and by the following.

193) numerous — (B):

194) V.s.i. in (G).

195) V.s.i. in (B).

196) V.s.i. in (G).

197) the major part — (B).

198) V.s.i. in (G).

199) V.s.i. in (B).

181) From this message, we have translated only the most significant passages; we have done the same for the speeches which appear on pages 47-48 and 51-54 of the Fez edition.

200) V.s.i. in (G).

201) In 460; (B): in 406.

202) city. In the margin of another copy: the country.

203) V.s.i. in (G).

204) V.s.i. in (G). Wadî al-Qurâ: cf. Mu'jam al-Buldân, vol. V, p. 345.

205) V.s.i. in (G). Yâqût transcribed it with a terminal hamza; it is a city located on the limits of the Shâm , between it and Wâdî al-qurâ; it has a citadel with great defensive qualities. Cf. Mu'jam, vol. II, p. 67.

206) Monetary treasures — (B): Treasures of.

207) Ayla: a city located on the coast of the Red Sea, on the side of the Shâm; Yâqût. vol. I, p. 292.

208) V.s.i. in (G).

181 bis) (B) gives 406; this is a copying error.

182) Ard' Filast'in covered, in the 10th century, Samaria, Judea and Idumea with the corresponding coastal plain.

183) This is the mosque of the Prophet in Medina, in the H'ijâz. "The Hijàz forms the northwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula. There is no agreement on the geographical boundaries of al-Hidjâz. Although Tihama is not part of it, it is often included in this region. Mecca, on the hills, has been called Tihâmiyya, and Medina mi-Tihâmiyya, mi-Hidjàziyya. In the East, al-Hidjâz is sometimes pushed as far as al-Fayd, near Adja', and Salmâ; but this is an extreme interpretation, as much as the one which makes it go back up towards the North as far as Palestine. The most restricted version of its extension towards the North excludes Madyan and its hinterland Hismâ. In the South, al-Hidjâz was formerly adjacent to Yaman, but for some time and since the Mamelukes, the 'Açlr has separated them. Cf. G. Rentz, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 37.

184) Between Badr and Medina. "The path that leads from Badr to aç-Safrâ' (locality where there is a solid fortress) is in a valley between the mountains, in which palm groves follow one another without interruption and where springs are numerous." Cf. Ibn Jubair, Voyages, p. 169 and pp. 216-217.

185) Oasis located 150 km from Medina, on the road linking Medina to Syria; it is about this that the text refers; [note that there is another Khaybar (called the Khaybar pass) designating the northern route between Afghanistan and India, leading from Kabul to Peshawar; its center is located at 34° 6' north lat. and 71° 5' long. East. Cf. Adolfe Grohmann and T.W. Haig, E.I., vol. II, pp. 921-922.

186) Locality at the west end of Medina, one night's journey from the coast Cf Yaqut Mu'jam, vol. I, pp. 88-89; M. Watt E.I. 2nd ed., p. 892.

187) Term designating two localities: the port, also called Yanbu' al-Bah'r, located on the coast of Arabia, in the region of Medina, and the older locality, situated 6 or 7 leagues to the north-east of the port and bearing the name of Yanbu' an-Nakhl. Cf. A. Grohmann, E.I., p. 1222.

188) Depression between al-'Ela' and al-Madina, usually called wadi Deidibhan (on the ancient trade route from southern Arabia to Syria). Cf. Adolf Grohmann, E.I., vol. IV, p. 1135.

189) Oasis of North Arabia, four days' march south of Dûmat al-Djandal; al-Maqdisi places it four days' journey from wàdi-l-Qurâ. lbn H'awqal (10th century) notes that Taïmâ is more populated than Tabûk; see infra. Cf. Fr. Buhl, E.I., vol. IV, p. 653.

190) A city in northern Arabia, located halfway between Medina and Jerusalem (230 km southeast of Mu'ân). Muqaddasî places it in the district of as-Sarât, itself belonging to Shâm; Cf. Yâ-qût, Mu'jam, vol. I, p. 824; Buhl, E.I., vol. IV, p. 623.

191) City which was on the site of the current al-Mayadin, downstream from the current Dêr ez-Zôr; the ruins which still bear the name of Rah'ba, represent a more recent Rah'ba, built in the 12th century AD, after the destruction of the other by an earthquake. The Rah'ba of the 10th century AD, which is the one mentioned by as-Suyût'i, bore the name of Rah'bat Malik ibn Tauq, because it was supposedly founded at the time of al Ma'mûn (198-202 AH/813-17 AD) by a Taghlibite emir of that name; it is, according to Ist'akhri, a fairly large city, with a solid rampart according to ibn H'awqal; al-Muqaddasî notes that it has a rectangular shape and had a fortress and a suburb. Cf. M. Canard, Histoire de la Dynastie des H'amdanides..., vol. I, pp. 95-96.

192) Founded in 17, 18 or 19 AH, by Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqâs on the west bank of the Euphrates, south of the ruins of Babylon. Arab geographers note that the city occupied a vast area in the plain bordering the river. By the time of al-Muqaddasi (10th century), al-Kûfa was in decline. Ibn Bat't'ût'a (14th century) must have found it practically deserted. After the 14th century, there is no longer any mention of Najaf, located in the surrounding area and currently called Mashhad 'Ali. Cf. K.V. Zettersteen, E.I., p. 191; L. Massignor., Explication du plan de Mita (Iraq), in Mélanges Maspéro, III, Orient Islamique, Cairo, 1940, pp. 338-39 and pp. 355-57.

193) A port located at the northwestern end of the Gulf of Aqaba. In the text, it refers to the modern city that Muqaddasî calls Wayla. [There is, further north, an old ruined city that Muqaddasî calls Ayla]. Cf. Musil, E.I., vol. I, pp. 214-15; Yâqût, Mu'jam, vol. I, p. 422.

194) This is the Rock (Dome of the Rock) in Jerusalem (al-Maqdis); "A great earthquake occurred in 407 AH/1016 AD (not mentioned by as-Suyùt'i), after which the dome had to be rebuilt." Cf. A. Miguel, Ahsan at-Takasim, n. 195, p. 194. Other earthquakes affected the dome: in 130 AH/746 AD [JW: Actually 749 CE], 780 AD [JW: Exact date unknown - constrained to between some time after 749 CE and 785 CE] , 418 AH/1027 AD [JW: 1033 CE]. Cf. Le Strange, Palestine under the Moslems, London, 1890, pp. 92-93 and p. 125.

195) This is of course the Eastern Mediterranean; the sea moves away (reflux) from the shore over a distance equivalent to a day's walk (stage), or approximately 25 to 30 km. [JW: East Mediterranean was NOT specified by al-Suyuti or anyone else. This tsunami was likely in the Gulf of Aqaba where we may have turbidite evidence in R/V Thuwal Core 11 of Bektas et al., 2024. A Gulf of Aqaba tsunami would also explain textual reports that everyone in Ayla died except for a few fishermen who were out on the water. For more on the turbidite evidence, see Gulf of Aqaba Landslide Evidence]

196) This earthquake therefore affected Palestine and the North of the Hijaz; it was felt in al-Kûfa and ar-Ruh'ba; the seismic wave had therefore reached the western part of 'Irâq, as well as the border of Shâm and al-Jazira.

209) In 400 -- (A and B).

210) V.s.i. in (B).

197) This appears to be the city of Cairo proper (located at 30° 6' lat. N. and 31° 6' long. E.).

198) In the same places ?

211) in 400 --- (A and B)

212) six times; in another copy: seven times

213) V.s.i. in (B).

214) By 78, we mean 478, as is evident from what precedes and what follows.

215) V.s.i. in (G).

215) V.s.i. in (B).

217) By 79, we want to indicate 479 as is evident from the above. and by the following.

218) earthquakes; (G): an earthquake

219) In 400 -- (A and B)

220) V.s.i in (G)

221) V.s.i in (B). From “In 484” to “under the rubble”. — (D).

222) in the territory of al-Jazira; (B): in the territory of al-Madina.

223) from Balisn; (G): from Balis.

224) V.s.i. in (A and B); Samaysât': city located on the left bank of the Euphrates.

199) The variant of B : "in the territory of al_Madina" is rejected; it is indeed al-Jazira, the author citing, among the urban centers affected, the cities of ar-Ruha and Harran (see below).

200) An earthquake occurred in this city in 552 AH/1157 AD (not mentioned by as-Suyiit'i). Cf. G. Fehervari, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 235.

201) This is indeed Bâlis, (Cf. note 129); copy G gives the exact transcription.

202) This is ancient Samosata, located on the right bank of the Euphrates and currently known as Samsât' or Simsât'; it was one of the [front-line] Muslim towns (thaghr) against the Byzantines. Cf. Ettore Rossi, E.I., vol. IV, p. 576

225) V.s.i. in (G).

226) V.s.i. in (G and B). By 13 we want to indicate 513 as is evident from what precedes and what follows. I make the same assumption for the years "89" to "98".

227) in the work; (A): in his work.

228) V.s.i. in (G).

203) City in Persia, on the borders of Jibâls and T'abaristân, 150 km from Tehran, at the southern foot of the Alburz. It was founded by Shâpûr I who gave it the name of Shâd Shâpûr, Cf. Huart, E.I., vol. II, p. 890

229) In the year 15; (G): in the year 16. By 15, we mean 515, as is evident from what precedes and what follows. I make the same assumption for the years by "16", "29", “32”, “33”, “38”, “44 “49”, “50”, “51”, and “52".

204) This is the name of one of the corners of the Ka'ba in Mecca, so named because it is in the direction of Yaman [JW: Yemen].

205) This is the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.

230) V.s.i. in (G).

231) V.s.i. in (B and D).

232) V.s.i. in (G).

233) V.s.i. clans (A and G).

234) This is what he mentioned in al-Mir'at; and in 24 — (B).

235) From "In the month of Rabi' I of the year 24" to "house" -- (B and G)

206) Was called Elizavetpol; it is the current Kirovabad [JW: This was the Soviet Union name at the time that Nejjar made this translation. Now, in post Soviet Union times, it is known as Ganja, Azerbaijan], a city of Adarbaidjan, in Transcaucasia, founded in 245 AH/859 AD; its name seems to derive from the pre-Islamic capital of Adharbaydjan (current ruins of Takht-i Sulaymân). 'Imâd ad-Din al-Içfahâni gives, regarding the earthquake of 533, the figure of 300,000 victims; al-Athir mentions the figure of 130,000. The city was rebuilt in the 13th century. Cf. [W. Barthold - J.A. Bayle] E.I., 2nd ed., vol., 997-98.

236) In 29 -- (G).

237) V.s.i. in (G).

238) V.s.i. in (B and D). Janza: located between Shirawan and Adherbaidjàn [Azerbijan].

239) V.s.i. in (B).

206 bis) That is 3600 km².

207) this is H'amza ibn Asad ibn 'Ali ibn Muh'ammad at-Tamlmi, Abu Ya'la, Damascene historian; he is the author of a work entitled: Thail Târîkh Dimashq, "a complement [or continuation] to the History of Damascus.” Cf. Zirikl, al-A'lam, vol. II, p. 308

240) V.s.i. in (G).

241) Thû al-ka'da; (B): Thû al-h’ijja.

208) Non-localized shock.

242) V.s.i. in (B).

209) after ~7 p.m.

243) In the year 50; (A): in year 5.

244) In 50, an earthquake occurred in Baghdad — (G)

245) V.s.i. in (G).

246) Shayzar; (G): Shirar; (B): Shiraz.

247) Kafart'ab: locality located between al-Ma'arra and the city of H'alab [Aleppo]. Yâqût, vol. IV, p. 470.

248) V.s.i. in (B).

249) V.s.i. in (G).

250) V.s.i. in (A).

251) Shayzar; (G): Shirar; (B): Shiraz.

252) V.s.i. in (G and B).

253) V.s.i. in (G).

254) V.s.i. in (G). Madâ'in al-Ifranj: name of two villages in Aleppo. Yâqût, vol. V, p. 75.

255) V.s.i. in (G).

210) City of central Syria, 54 km north of H'iims [Homs] and 152 km south of H'alab [Aleppo], built on both banks of the Nahr al-'Açî or Orontes; this city is mentioned in the Bible under the name of Hamat; it was called, in the Hellenistic period, Epiphania. The real city was located on the left bank, higher in elevation (reaching in places more than 40 m above the level of the river); it included a lower town and an upper town. Cf. D. Sourdel, E.I., 2nd ed., pp. 122-123; M. Canard, Histoire de la H'amdanid dynasty..., vol. I, pp. 208-209.

211) In G: Shîrar; in B: Shlrâz. This is indeed Shaïzar, given that the earthquake in question, that of 552, had affected the province of Shâm.

212) On Kafritab., generally known to Western historians as Capharda (ancient Arra). Al-Qalqashandi notes that Kafart'âb is on the road between Ma'arrat an-Nu'mân (v. infra) and Shaizar, cities which are twelve Arab miles apart; Abû 1-Fidâ' places the city halfway between al-Ma'arra and Shaizar and notes that the region lacks water. The site has been fixed a little to the northwest of present day Khan Sheikhoun. Cf. René Dussaud, Topograpie ..., pp. 178-187, in particular, p. 179 and p. 186 and maps VIII, B 1 and XIV, B 2; M. Canard, Histoire de la H'amdanid dynasty ..., vol. I, p. 210; R.P. Mouterde, “Rapport sur une mission épigraphique en Haute Syrie, 1928”, Syria, X, 1929, pp. 126-129; map by Desehamps, “le Château de Sâone et ses premiers seigneurs ”, Syria, 1934.

213) This is the famous Crac des Chevaliers, a Syrian castle located on Mount Khalil (750 m. above sea level) "the last southern surge of the Djabal Ansariyya", about 60 km northwest of H'ims [Homs]. During the invasion of Ramses II, the emipaternent [?] of Crac was occupied by a town called Shebton or Shabtuna. Arabic texts cite this toponym for the first time in the first half of the 5th/11th century under the name of H'içn al-Safh' (castle of the Slope: simple tower surrounded by a wall); at the same time (422 AH/1031 AD), a colony of Kurds was installed there; the place then took the name of H'içn al-Akrâd (today known as Kal'at al-H'isn). N. Elisséeff notes that in Rajab 552 Aug. - Sept. 1157, "a violent earthquake (it seems that it this is the same earthquake mentioned by as-Suyut'i) shook the castle; the damage was quickly repaired." In 565 AH/1170 AD, a second earthquake (most likely the same as that mentioned by as-Suyut'i; in this case the date to remember is 1170, i.e. the interval 1 January - 13 September 1170), severely tested the place; major works were then undertaken." "In 597 AH [1201, i.e. the interval 1 January - 30 September 1201; as-Suyut'i, who mentions this earthquake, does not mention H'isn al-Akrad] and 598 AH [1201. i.e. the interval 1 October - 31 December 1201] (earthquake cited by as-Suyût'î), new earthquakes affected Kafartâb and imposed important rearrangements. N. Elisséeff, E.I., 2nd ed., vol. III, p. 523; Dussaud, Topographie..., p. 92.

214) City in Syria, located 50 km north of Hama, and 70 km southwest of Aleppo; it is the ancient Arra. Cf. Dussaud, Topographie..., p. 188; Miquel, Ahsan..., p. 299.

215) This is indeed Shaizar, a city of Sham. (Cf. note 155).

216) Also known as Afamya and Famya. It is the ancient Pharnake, Pella at the time of Alexander, and Apamea under Seleucus Nicator, located on the right bank of the Orontes, 40 km north of H'amâ. The earthquake of 552 A11/1157 AD destroyed its fortifications. Its ruins still exist; to the west of these is Qal'at al-Mud'îq, a citadel of more recent date. Cf. H.A.R. Gibb, E.I., 2nd ed., vol. I, p. 221; Dussaud, Topographie.. , pp. 188-89; M. Canard, Historie..., p. 210.

217) Locality of Shâm (we could not locate it).

218) In Yâqût, al-Mâdâ'in is the name of the two villages in the region of H'alab [Aleppo], in the plain of Bani-Asad. It seems that these are the two localities, given that the earthquake of 552 AH had affected the province of Shâm. [Note that the word al-Madâ'in designates the two cities of Irâq, Taisafûn (Ctesiphon) and Bahrasir, located about thirty km southeast of Baghdâd. Cf. Yâqût, vol. VIII, p. 444; Streck, E.I., pp. 73-83.

219) This is 'Abd-ar-Rah'man ibn Ismâ'il ibn Ibrâhîm al-Maqdisi ad-Dimashqi, Abù Shâma (1202-1267 AD), historian and traditionist. Originally from Jerusalem, he was born and lived in Damascus. Apart from his work entitled: ar-Rawd'atayn fî Akhbâr ad-Dawiatayn: aç-Çâlih'iyya and an-Nûriyya » (published in Egypt, 1287/1870-71, 2 volumes), he wrote a history of Damascus « Tarîkh Dimashq”, in 20 volumes; See Zirikli, al-Al'am, vol. IV, p. 70.

256) V.s.i. in (B).

257) V.s.i. in (A and G).

258) The verb “to occur”, "struck", etc. is implied; the same is true for the following sentences.

259) V.s.i. in (A, B, and D).

260) V.s.i. in (B).

220) After citing the earthquakes of 551 AH, As-Suyût'i dealt again with the earthquakes of 552 AH and more particularly those which affected the city of Damascus.

221) The verb indicating the action (took place, occurred) isn't ... NEED MORE PAGES

261) V.s.i. in (B and G).

262) V.s.i. in (G).

263) (The) 2"; (D); (the) 21.

264) northern region; in another copy: ash-Shâm.

265) in H'amât [Hama] — (B) to.

266) V.s.i. in (A).

267) V.s.i. in (A, B and D).

268) V.s.i. in (G and B).

269) V.s.i. in (A and G)

270) at the beginning of the night; (G) at the beginning of the day.

271) V.s.i. in (B and G).

272) Shayzar; (B): Shîraz. Shîraz, name of one of the villages of Sarkhas.

273) V.s.i. in (G, B and D).

274) V.s.i. in (B).

275) V.s.i. in (G).

276) This is Abu Shama, in Kitab ar-Rawd'atayn. Cf. p. 25, line 12.

277) V.s.i. in (B).

278) V.s.i. in (A and G).

279) V.s.i. in (G).

280) V.s.i. in (B).

281) Saturday 10 Shawwâ; (B and D): Saturday of the month of Shawwâl.

282) Shake; in another copy: a crash.

283) V.s.i. in (B).

284) of the 23rd; (D): of the 21st.

285) Then he said: it is about al-H'âfith Abû Shâma in Kitâb ar-Rawd'atayn, p. 25, line 12.

286) Ibn al-Athîr: name cited in all copies; it could rather be Ibn al-Jawzi, based on what was said previously. Cf. p. 25, line 2.

287) V.s.i. in (A and G).

288) of this earthquake ; (G); of these earthquakes

289) V.s.i. in (B).

290) wooden (B).

291) Ubaïd, in a dwelling — (G).

292) the city had collapsed (G).

293) V.s.i. in (G).

294) noted — (B)

295) V.s.i. in (B) and in another copy.

296) aç-Çâlih' — (G).

297) V.s.i. in (A and D).

298) V.s.i. in (A).

299) in Shâm and al-Jazira; (G) : in Shâm and al-Madîna.

300) V.s.i. in (B).

301) V.s.i. in (A).

302) to Shâm — (B)

303) V.s.i. in (G).

304) V.s.i. in (B).

305) Uzbak; (A, D and G). : Arbal.

306) Earthquakes; (B and G): the earthquake.

307) In 75; (D) : in 76.

308) In 87; (B and D) : in 37.

309) In 92; (G) : in 72.

310) V.s.i. in (G).

311) V.s.i. in (A).

312) V.s.i. in (B).

313) V.s.i. in (G).

314) Lightning; (G): a flash of lightning.

315) V.s.i. in (A).

316) V.s.i. in (G).

317) between sky; (A): clouds.

318) V.s.i. in (A).

319) an earthquake; (G): earthquakes.

320) V.s.i. in (B).

321) Buçrâ:

1. City of Shâm, part of the region of Damascus.
2. one of the villages of Baghdad. Yâqût, vol. I, p. 441.

334) cracked; (B): fell.

335) that is to say what remained after the earthquake which occurred in A.H. 597; see p. 32, of the translation, line 19.

336) V.s.i. in (G)

337) In another copy: a terrible, very violent earthquake.

338) al-Kark [Karak] village located at the foot of Jabal Lubnân. Yâqût, Vol. IV, p. 452.

339) Fortress located on the borders of Shâm between 'Ammân, Ayla and al-Qulzum, near al-Kark [Karak]. Mu'jam al-Buldân, Vol. III, p. 370.

A) JW: Ibn Al-Athîr spent most of his life in Mosul.

340) Strongholds ; (A): the heights. In the margin of this copy, one can read: plural of Til'a, which is a high place.

341) By 54, we mean 654, as is evident from what precedes and what follows; I make the same assumption for the years following this one and stopping at (6) 93, p. 37.

342) V.s.i. in (B)

343) V.s.i. in (A and G))

344) V.s.i. in (G)

345) V.s.i. in (B)

346) This was reported by Ibn al-Athîr; (B and G): this was reported by Ibn Kathîr.

348) ...the majority of houses; (B): ....the majority.

349) V.s.i. in (B); Yâqût transcribes it as: Sîsiyya; its inhabitants pronounce it Sis. Cf. Mu'jam, Vol. III, p. 297.

350) several — (B).

351) V.s.i. in (B); in a copy: in 72.

352) Qâqûl; (A and B); Fâqûl: this is probably Qâqûn which Yaqut says is a fortress in Palestine, near ar-Ramla; Cf. Mu'jam, Vol. IV, p. 299.

353) V.s.i. in (A).

354) V.s.i. in (A and B).

355) V.s.i. in (B).

356) the author subsequently reproduces the text of a speech given on this occasion and which specifies the precise date of this earthquake, namely: Thursday 23 Dhû al-H'ijja A.H. 702 at sunrise 8 August 1302.

128) V.s.i. in (B).

368) V.s.i. in (G).

359) camels, men; (G): camels and camel saddles.

360) V.s.i. in {G).

361) Shâfi' ibn 'abd adh'-Dh'ahr; (B) Shâfi' ibn 'abd al-Mut't'alib.

362) .. The 23rd Dhû-l-H'ijja; (B): the 22nd of Dhû-l-H'ijja. There does not seem to be any difference in date, since the author of the speech says (after mentioning the year and month in question): "at sunrise"; indeed, some have thought that the day of the 23rd began with sunset, while others have thought the opposite.

363) V.s.i. in (G).

364) V.s.i. in (B).

365) V.s.i. in (G).

366) V.s.i. in (B).

367) V.s.i. in (B).

368) permanent + (B): so far; then comes the next.

369) 722; (D): 702

370) V.s.i. in (B).

371) V.s.i. in (G).

372) By 44 we mean 744, as is evident from what precedes and what follows; I make the same assumption for the year ending in 8.

373) in desert regions; (G): in the desert.

374) From “this earthquake” to “other earthquakes”; (B): “This earthquake was followed by some other earthquakes.”

375) In 48; (D): in eighty seventy. In 48: that is, 748, as is evident from what precedes and what follows.

376) By 75, we mean 775; the same applies to years ending in “87” and “88”.

377) The night of the 13th of Sha'ban; (B): the night of the 12th of Sha'ban.

378) From “a slight” to “al-Qâhira” -- (G).

379) Blown — (G).

380) V.s.i. in (B).

381) From "the city was destroyed" to "upside down" -- (B).

382) in the month of Sha'ban (G).

383) V.s.i. in (G); 11, that is, 811.

384) In the vicinity; (G): the vicinity.

385) V.s.i. in (B and G).

386) Arzankan; (G): Azrankân.

387) V.s.i. in (A and G).

388) 28, that is to say 828; the same is true for the following years up to (8) 63.

389) V.s.i. in (B).

390) An earthquake occurred in Gharnât'a; in another copy: an earthquake followed by another earthquake occurred in Gharnât'a.

391) V.s.i. in (B).

392) In 38; (B): in 88.

393) a mild earthquake; (G): a very violent earthquake.

392) V.s.i. in (B); in another copy: Athraybajân.

395) V.s.i. in (B).

396) In 800 ... -- (B).

397) V.s.i. in (G).

398) or a piece (morceau in French); (B and D): and a piece (morceau in French).

399) h'anafite — (B).

400) V.s.i. in (B and G).

401) 9 Jumada I; (G) : 7 Jumada I.

402) 88, that is, 888; “89” and “96” correspond to 889 and 896.

403) V.s.i. in (B and D).

404) From “(six) earthquakes” to “Egypt” -- (G).

405) From .. "an earthquake" to "another one happened" -— (B).

406) V.s.i. in (A and B).