Perhaps, the political upheavals and poor economy of Libya are not strong enough to bury the charm of historically renowned city of Timbuktu. The mysterious land remained unnoticed until date and its old literature stamped under the hot and humid Sahara desert.
If literature mirrors society, then Timbuktu is all set to rise like a phoenix from its vanished glory with the antique annals of manuscripts that endured eleven generations of open neglect. These records set its claim for the renaissance of the city and of its culture with its roots reaching to far regions like Spain.
The annals of the baroque but forgotten Arabic scripts that are held by Diadie Haidara, belong to sixteenth century. The world was apparently oblivious of the treasure until now however, with the musty and fragile pages, these unique scripts have the potential to provide second chance for Timbuktu to regain its faded glory in the erudite hearts of Africa.
Empowered by the past records of ancient scripts and books that are brought by the visitors from all over the world in the past, the city craves to make an Alexandria for the Black African. The city is at the verge of renaissance, but this time will not allow it to diminish unlike the camel hooves on the sands of Sahara that recedes eventually.
With this development, the thousands of books and scores of scriptures will be revealing the prevalent socio-political scenario of the time to researchers for the first time. And with this the European governments, including US, UK, and Mideast have conferred thousands of dollars to revamp the dilapidated and neglected libraries to attract the scholars from all over the world to explore the hidden past.
Timbuktu, a trading post set by nomads in the 11th century, is making a slow comeback for years. Its manuscripts began to emerge in the mid-20th century, when Mali got freedom from France and the city was declared a UNESCO world heritage site.
These manuscripts are the treasure of Islamic history that include biography of Prophet Muhammad form 13th century. The study of these manuscripts will definitely bring the facts of Islamic history to the fore, thus flourishing the Islamic learning. With the funds that are conferred to it, the city will come out from the shackles and the ebbs of the lost glory, rejuvenate the learning euphoria in the city, and the plans like digging the canal while hoaxing the big sand mountain will bring the life giving water of river Niger to Timbuktu.
Via: NYTimes
Comments
Retrieving long-forgotten writings is always an achievement. As for the biography of Mohammad, I am not sure whether it exactly is worth something if it comes from the 13th century. The source material is always Ibn-e-Ishaq and is under criticism for lacking objectivity. However, if the Libyan biography (most probably an imported one in those times) is different from what we have today, then we may iron out the seams of digression that have been weaved into the fabric of understanding over centuries.
Timbuktu, an unknown city even in the modern scholarship in history, could probably not provide an authentic version of whatsoever is found since to my understanding it has never been a center of wisdom even in the peak of Muslim Civilizations. Libya could’ve lived its past under The Fatimids of North Africa whose flourishing base as put by Farhad Daftary and other Western Scholars remained much centered to Cairo and Al-Azhar, the world’s oldest University. Had anyone created or built the biography of Muhammad to be accepted historically authentic then center’s of Muslim Civilizations should be dig into rather than ironing out what an unknown city could give you.
Both, Karim and Iqram, illustrious and well-read bloggers with a knack for critical estimation of subjects under study, seem to be presumptous as far as their comments on the retrieval of biogarphis of the Prophet Mohammad, dating back to 16th century A.D., are concerned. How can be formed opinion about a subject unless we have an opportunity to go through it? Let the manuscripts be in public domain for scrutiny. Islam has a glorious past of having written history. The tradition continues. Even Mohammad was in favour to acquire knowledge and information even if you have to visit far flung countries such as China.