An Enquiry Into the Destruction of the Ancient Alexandrian Library

An Enquiry Into the Destruction of the Ancient Alexandrian Library
Book cover
1893 English cover
AuthorShibli Nomani
Original titleکتب خانہ اسکندریہ
TranslatorSabahuddin Abdur Rahman
LanguageUrdu
SubjectLibrary of Alexandria
GenreHistory
Published1892
Publication placeBritish India
Published in English
1893
Media typePrint
ISBN978-1-01537-639-7 (Legare Street Press, English, 2021)
OCLC316101303
022.0932
TextAn Enquiry Into the Destruction of the Ancient Alexandrian Library online

An Enquiry Into the Destruction of the Ancient Alexandrian Library is an 1892 essay written by Shibli Nomani, originally published in Urdu as Kutubkhana-i-Iskandariyya (Urdu: کتب خانہ اسکندریہ). It examines the widespread claim that Muslims under Caliph Umar destroyed the Library of Alexandria and argues, based on historical evidence, that the library had already been lost centuries earlier. The work critically analyzes European and Christian sources, concluding that the allegation against Muslims was unfounded and historically inaccurate.

Overview

The essay was first published in 1892.[1] Its purpose was to investigate and respond to the widely circulated claim that during the Arab conquest of Egypt, Caliph Umar destroyed the Library of Alexandria, a repository of centuries of accumulated knowledge established under the Ptolemies.[1][2] This allegation, often used to suggest that Muslims were hostile to knowledge, became widely accepted in Europe.[1] Shibli observed that this narrative had influenced literature, philosophy, and popular expression, permeating cultural and intellectual discourse for centuries.[3]

Shibli's research demonstrated that Muslims were not responsible for the library's destruction. By the time of the Muslim conquest, the library had already ceased to exist: half had been destroyed centuries earlier by Julius Caesar, and the remaining works had been dispersed.[4] The claim implicating Muslims appears to have originated with the Christian writer Abu al-Farj (b. 1226) and was subsequently propagated by European chroniclers, who attributed the destruction to Muslims without rigorous investigation.[5] Shibli also noted the selective attention of European historians, observing that other major libraries in Iran, Spain, and elsewhere had been destroyed without comparable concern, raising questions about why the Library of Alexandria received such particular focus.[6]

In his investigation, Shibli examined European writings in German, French, and English, systematically evaluating their claims.[7] Although primarily a scholar of Arabic and Persian, he referenced European sources with precision and applied the principles of narrational transmission to verify historical events.[7]

Legacy

Through this essay, Shibli is regarded as the first scholar to systematically refute the claim that Muslims were responsible for the destruction of the Library of Alexandria.[8] His refutation was later acknowledged by several orientalist scholars in the 20th century.[8] The essay was widely read and translated into multiple languages. An English translation by Muhammad Ghouse Sayeed was published in Hyderabad in 1893, and another translation was later produced by Sabahuddin Abdur Rahman.[1] The work continues to be cited as a definitive study on the subject,[1] and according to Arshad Islam, it compelled many European scholars to reconsider earlier assumptions about the destruction of the library and became a part of broader discussions on the reliability of historical narratives.[9] Sulaiman Nadvi stated that the study was widely accepted among researchers.[10]

Several scholars have reviewed the work in detail. Md. Nasir of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University noted that it reflects Shibli's deep understanding of history, historiographical methodology, and Islamic civilization.[11] Mohammad Ilyas al-Azami described it as comprehensive, well-reasoned, and scholarly,[1] while Zafar Ahmad Siddiqi emphasized the value of its engaging introduction, systematic arrangement of evidence, and clarity of presentation.[12] Md. Faiz Ahmad of Delhi University observed that Shibli's essay challenged European historical narratives by questioning research methods, scrutinizing accounts, and addressing issues of bias, while also combining rigorous research, logical reasoning, and evidence.[13] He further noted that the essay drew the attention of European scholars, influenced subsequent debates, and helped counter widely circulated narratives.[14]

See also

  • Deobandi historical works

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Al-Azami, Mohammad Ilyas (2002). Darul Musannefeen Ki Tarikhi Khidmat (in Urdu). Patna: Khuda Bakhsh Library. p. 168. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  2. ^ Khanum, Almas (2016). "Maulana Shibli Nomani ki Muhqiqana Kawishen". Tahqeeq Nama (in Urdu). 18 (1): 292.
  3. ^ Nasir, Md (1986). Allama Shibli Nomani Ki Nasri Khidmat (PhD) (in Urdu). India: Department of Urdu, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University. p. 147. hdl:10603/648649. Archived from the original on 23 September 2025.
  4. ^ Nasir 1986, p. 148.
  5. ^ Bhat, Samee-Ullah (2019). "The Importance Of Works Of Muhammad Shibli Nomani". Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities. 3 (2): 177. doi:10.21580/jish.32.2921. ISSN 2527-838X. S2CID 198507796. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  6. ^ Ahmad, Md. Faiz (2017). Mazameen Shibli ka tanquidi motala (PhD) (in Urdu). India: Department of Urdu, Delhi University. p. 76. hdl:10603/371903. Archived from the original on 23 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b Siddiqi, Zafar Ahmad (1988). Shibli: Hindustani Adab Ke Memar (in Urdu). India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 47.
  8. ^ a b Musharraf, Muhammad Nabeel; Dars, Bashir Ahmed (2016). "Who Burnt The Grand Library Of Alexandria?". Australian Journal of Humanities and Islamic Studies Research (AJHISR). 2 (2): 7–20.
  9. ^ Islam, Arshad (2005). "'Allāma Shiblī Nu'mānī (1857–1914): A Monumental Islamic Scholar" (PDF). Pakistan Journal of History & Culture. 26 (1): 72. ISSN 1012-7682. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  10. ^ Yeaqub, Md (2019). Writings of Allama Shibli Nomani in Arabic : Edition and annotation (PhD thesis) (in Arabic). India: Aligarh Muslim University. p. 129. hdl:10603/666571.
  11. ^ Nasir 1986, p. 150.
  12. ^ Siddiqi 1988, p. 48.
  13. ^ Ahmad 2017, p. 75.
  14. ^ Ahmad 2017, p. 77.
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