The Influence of Muslim's Sociocultural History on Ibn Jubayr's Travelogue

Travelogues are considered among the important sources for studying the sociocultural conditions existing in the different historical periods. Ibn Jubayr’s travelogue is one of these important sources. In the second half of the sixth century AH, Ibn Jubayr, the Sunni scholar from Andalusia, traveled from the westernmost region of the Muslim world to the center of Islam to perform Hajj. This travel is considered as an important step in understanding the cultural and social situation of Muslims in the sixth century AH. On his way, he first went to Egypt and then to Hejaz. After Hajj, he visited Iraq and Syria. His visit to Sicily and describing the events that happened in it is among the oldest accounts of that region which was governed by European Christians. The present paper seeks to answer a number of important questions in this regard. Can we refer to Ibn Jubayr’s travelogue for understanding the social and cultural situation of the Muslims of that time? In what conditions were the Shi’ah and Muslims living in those Christian areas? To what extent were the accounts in Ibn Jubayr’s book influenced by his religious viewpoint? In Ibne Jubayr’s book which focuses on describing the events of Hajj, therefore, the social and cultural conditions of Muslims in general, and the Shi’ah in particular are reflected. The book also contains interesting, albeit sometimes prejudiced accounts, about the Shi’ah.