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An Enquiry Into the Destruction of the Ancient Alexandrian Library
1892 essay by Shibli Nomani From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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. 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.
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The essay was first published in 1892.[1] Its purpose was to investigate and respond to the widely circulated claim that during the Muslim conquest of Egypt, Caliph Umar (RA) 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 Abū 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 (usool-e-riwayat) to verify historical events.[7]
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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 Syed Sabahuddin Abdul 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 contributed to broader discussions on the reliability of historical narratives.[9]
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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] He further noted that the essay drew the attention of European scholars, influenced subsequent debate, and helped counter widely circulated narratives that had attributed the destruction of the Library of Alexandria to Muslims.[13]
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