Shihab al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Qādir ibn Sālim ibn ʿUthmān
Arab writer (16th century)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shihab al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Qādir ibn Sālim ibn ʿUthmān, most commonly known as Arab Faqīh, was a Yemeni writer from the port of Jizan.[1] Best known for writing the chronicle "Futuh al-Habasha", a first hand account of the Ethiopian-Adal war in the 16th century.[2][3]
Shihab al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Qādir ibn Sālim ibn ʿUthmān | |
|---|---|
| Title | Arab Faqih |
| Personal life | |
| Era | Adal Sultanate |
| Region | Horn of Africa |
| Main interest(s) | Warfare |
| Notable work(s) | Futūh al-Habasha |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Jurisprudence | Sunni |
Biography
Arab Faqih was a citizen of the Adal Sultanate and a religious Sufi.[4][5] He is believed to be of Yemeni descent according to most modern scholars.[3][6][7][8][9] Arab Faqih was a companion of Šams ad-Din ‘Ali bin 'Umar aš-Šādili al-Qarši al-Yemeni who according to French linguist René Basset established coffee drinking into Arabia.[10]
His surname in the Harari language was 'Arab Faqih,' which translates to "the Arab Jurist," a name suggesting Arab Yemeni roots. Enrico Cerulli described him as probably a Harari, while noting that the title ‘Arab Faqih’ could point to Yemeni origins.[11][12]
He used to document his work (which were left unfinished) in Jizan, Yemen.[12]
Linguist Giorgio Banti states it is noteworthy that his name Arab Faqīh is constructed using Arabic vocabulary while adhering to Harari grammatical rules.[13]
Arab Faqih is notable for writing the "Futuh al-Habasha" which details the sixteenth century war between Adal and Abyssinia from the point of view of Harar residents.[14]