Biography of Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan al-Jabarti سوانح عمری عبدالرحمٰن بن حسن الجبرتی

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Biography of Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan al-Jabarti

Asslamoalaikum, We welcome you in our series Muslim Heritage and Islamic Scholars, today we will describe Biography of Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan al-Jabarti

Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan ibn Burhan al-Din al-Jabarti, widely known simply as al-Jabarti, was one of the most important Egyptian scholars and chroniclers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is best remembered as the historian who carefully documented the French expedition to Egypt under Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as the social and political transformations of his time. His detailed writings offer a rare, firsthand account of one of the most turbulent periods in Egyptian history, making him a key figure in Islamic historiography.

Al-Jabarti was born in 1753 CE. There is some disagreement about his exact place of birth: according to the orientalist Franz Steiner, he was born in Tell al-Jabarti, a small village in the northern Delta province of Beheira, Egypt. However, other scholars such as Abd al-Qadir ?ali? suggest that al-Jabarti was born directly in Cairo, the city where he would later spend most of his life. What is certain is that he came from a distinguished family of Somali descent, originating from the Jabarti clan of the Horn of Africa, who had settled in Egypt generations earlier and became known for their piety and scholarship. His lineage gave him both cultural prestige and connections within Cairo’s scholarly circles.

From a young age, al-Jabarti was immersed in Islamic learning. He studied the Qur’an, Arabic grammar, jurisprudence (fiqh), and history at al-Azhar University, the great center of Islamic learning in Cairo. He was deeply influenced by the traditional scholarly atmosphere of al-Azhar, which shaped him into a devout scholar with a keen eye for both religious and historical matters. His Somali ancestry, combined with his Egyptian upbringing, gave him a unique perspective on society and governance, blending respect for tradition with sharp critique of injustice and foreign domination.

Al-Jabarti became most famous for his chronicle, “Ajaib al-Athar fi al-Tarajim wa-al-Akhbar” (Marvelous Compositions in Biographies and Events). This monumental work documented the key events of late 18th and early 19th century Egypt, particularly focusing on the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte’s French expedition in 1798 and its aftermath. Al-Jabarti witnessed firsthand the sudden invasion of Egypt, the shock it brought to local society, and the cultural and political upheaval that followed. His writings provide detailed descriptions of the French occupation, the behavior of French soldiers, the responses of Egyptian society, and the interactions between Europeans and Muslims. Unlike many European accounts, al-Jabart?’s work reflects the perspective of an Egyptian Muslim scholar, offering invaluable insight into how Egyptians themselves viewed this historic encounter.

His chronicle was not limited to the French campaign but extended to cover the rise of Muhammad Ali Pasha, who came to dominate Egypt in the early 19th century. Al-Jabarti’s accounts include descriptions of new reforms, military changes, and the shifting balance of power in Egypt. While he admired certain aspects of European science and organization, he remained critical of foreign influence and lamented the erosion of traditional Islamic society under Western pressure. His work, therefore, reflects both admiration and resistance, capturing the complex realities of Egypt at the crossroads of modernity and tradition.

Al-Jabarti lived through great changes but remained dedicated to his role as a scholar and chronicler. He passed away in 1825 CE in Cairo, Egypt, at the age of about 72. Cairo, the city where he studied, taught, and observed the dramatic shifts of his time, was also the place of his burial.

As for the history of his shrine or grave, al-Jabarti was buried in Cairo, where his tomb was regarded with respect, particularly among scholarly families and historians. Unlike the grand shrines dedicated to saints and Sufi mystics, his grave remained more modest, reflecting his identity as a scholar rather than a spiritual figure of veneration. Nevertheless, among Egyptian intellectual circles, his burial site has been quietly honored as the resting place of one of Egypt’s greatest historians, and later generations of students and researchers remembered him with deep reverence for preserving their history.

Today, al-Jabarti’s works remain among the most important primary sources for understanding the late Ottoman period in Egypt, the French expedition, and the beginnings of modern Egyptian history. His sharp observations, combined with his commitment to truth and Islamic values, secured his place as the great chronicler of Cairo, a scholar whose writings continue to inspire historians and Muslims alike.

With this, we ask for your permission until tomorrow and tomorrow we will narrate biography of Biography of Al-Jildaki. Finally, we pray to Allah Almighty to grant us the ability to act on the Quran and Hadith, Amen.

Allah Hafiz
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