A Comparative Study of Ibn Rustah's Geographical Method in Comparison with other Geographers of the Iraqi School (based on Geographic Books of Yaqubi, Ibn al-Faqih, and Ibn Khurdadhbih)

Due to the knowledge of geography and the spread of this science to Muslims, in the 4th and 5th centuries AH there were formed two geographic schools called Iraqi and Balkhi, and each of these two schools used the principles in the creation of their works. Ibn Rustah is among the geographers who belong by researchers at the Iraqi school. Ibn Rustah's significance is that he has a world-wide view of geography, and for this purpose he has tried to transform his work into a comprehensive encyclopedia. Hence, despite the similarities exist between the way in which the al-Nafīsseh book and the works of other geographers of the Iraqi school, there are many differences in comparison with these works. Based on the results, these differences are evident in human geography, economic geography, religious and sectarian geography, mathematical and astronomy geography, the pre-eminence of the description of Mecca and Medina on Baghdad, the description of areas, roads, rivers and seas.