The Meadows of Gold, The Abbasids (Muruj ad-Dahab wa-Ma'adin al-Jawhar)

Meadows of Gold aka Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems (Arabic: مُرُوج ٱلذَّهَب وَمَعَادِن ٱلْجَوْهَر‎, Murūj aḏ-Ḏahab wa-Maʿādin al-Jawhar) is an historical account in Arabic of the beginning of the world starting with Adam and Eve up to and through the late Abbasid Caliphate by medieval Baghdadi historian Al-Masudi.It is important to note that this is an abridged version, for the general reader. Unfortunately, there is no complete translation in English (as of 2022). However, Aloys Sprenger's 1841 English translation of the first volume is still worth referring to, particularly for it's comprehensive text notes. The Meadows of Gold The Abbasids Copyright Contents Introduction Abu Ja'far Mansur A Conversation with the King of Nubia Loyalty to Hisham In the Audience Hall The Death of Mansur The Character of Mansur The Caliphate of Mahdi Mahdi and the Qadi Mahdi and the Peasant Mahdi and the Bedouin Mahdi and the Treasurer The Wheel of Fortune Unrequited Love An Amusing Story about the King of Hira The Last Days of Mahdi The Character of Hadi Isa ibn Da'b Revenge The Death of the Great-great-great Grandson of the Prophet The Fall of Khaizuran Blood Feuds The Climate of Egypt Basra versus Kufa Harun al-Rashid and the Death of Hadi The Dream of Mahdi The Sword Samsama The Accession of Harun al-Rashid Sheep's Head A Qadi's Interpretation The Last Pilgrimage of Harun al-Rashid Doctor Jabra'il and a Fish The Dream of Harun al-Rashid A Black and a Song Poem on a Dove Ma'n ibn Za'ida Amin and Ma'mun as Children The Education of Amin Amin and Ma'mun The Succession Zubaida's Opinion Rashid's Pilgrimage with his Sons The Devil's Song A Hard-Won Song Horse-Racing at Raqqa Fish Tongues The Name Ibrahim Bamboo and Reed The Death of Harun al-Rashid Khalid ibn Barmak and His Sons The Barmakids The Advice of Yahya Harun al-Rashid and the Singing Girl The Avarice of Asma'i A Poet on Rashid and Ja'far ibn Yahya On Love The Fall of the Barmakids The Murder of Ja'far al-Barmaki Elegies on the Barmakids The Mother of Ja'far The Wealth of the Barmakids Fadl in Prison Miscellaneous on Rashid and the Barmakids The Caliphate of Amin The Dreams of Zubaida Trouble Between Amin and Ma'mun The Jealousy of Zubaida Ill-Omens for Amin Amin's Beloved The Frivolity of Amin Amin and the Lion The Birth of Musa al-Hadi Miscellaneous Anecdotes The Palace of Manbij Musa Declared Heir Apparent Rebellion Amin in Retreat Baghdad Besieged The Naked Army Baghdad in Flames Resistance Famine Amin at Bay The Death of Amin An Eye-Witness Account Amin's Head The Laments of the Women The Caliphate of Ma'mun Sayings of Ma'mun Ma'mun's Wedding Speech Ma'mun and the Sponger The Caliph and the Poet Kulthum al-Attabi Professionally Unlucky Abu al-Atahiya The Caliph's Cooking Ma'mun Embarrassed Ma'mun Justifies Himself to the Sufis The Death of Shafi'i Ma'mun and the False Prophets The Rise and Death of Imam Rida The Capture of Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi The Marriage of Buran An Adventure of Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi The Poverty of Waqidi Mansur and the Cadger The Death of Ibn A'isha The Death of Abu al-Atahiya Ma'mun's Campaigns against the Byzantines and His Death The Caliphate of Mu'tasim Mu'tasim on Agriculture Mu'tasim and His Doctor The Kind Heart of Mu'tasim The New Capital of Samarra Mu'tasim The Caliphate of Wathiq Wathiq Discusses Medicine An Aphorism on the Death of Alexander The Caliphate of Mutawakkil Mutawakkil Mutawakkil's Palace of the Two Wings A Donkey in Love A Vigorous Old Scholar Saved from Rape At the Caliph's Table The Sailor's Stew Love's Despair - Jahiz The Slapping of a Secretary The Death of Ahmad ibn Hanbal The Testing of an Assassin The Indian Sword The Assassination of Mutawakkil Court Factions Mutawakkil's Last Day The Reign of Mutawakkil Mahbuba The Caliphate of Muntasir The Carpet of Annihilation Vicious Viziers On the Death of Muntasir The Generosity of Muntasir An Old Love Regained Love at First Sight Meccan Morals The Caliphate of Musta'in The Aftermath Things That Give Pleasure Afra and Urwa Bugha the Elder Mu'tazz Acclaimed Caliph The Assassination of Musta'in The Caliphate of Mu'tazz A Remarkable Ring The Death of Muhammad, the Grandson of Tahir The Imprisonment of Mu'ayyad The Murder of Bugha the Younger The Caliphate of Muhtadi The Death of Mu'tazz The Death of Muhtadi The Adventure of a Gate-crasher The Austerity of Muhtadi A Tradition Concerning Ali The Death of Jahiz The Caliphate of Mu'tamid The Discipline of SafFar's Army The Horrors of the Zanj Rebellion Wily Muslims Admired by the Byzantines Mu'awiya Takes Revenge on a Byzantine The Night Conversations of Mu'tamid Mu'tamid Dies by Poison The Caliphate of Mu'tadid The Splendid Dowry of Qatr al-Nada The Wit of Abu al-Ayna An Idol Comes to Baghdad A Delegation from Basra The Clucking of a Grammarian Umm Sharif, the Aunt of the Rebel On Eunuchs The Funeral of Khumarawaih Mu'tadid Takes a Thief The Mimic and the Eunuch A Master Thief Alchemical Texts Mu'tadid's Ghosts The Death of Ibrahim al-Harbi the Jurist Two Students Enamoured The Qadi Ibn Jabir The Eunuch Wasif Why Mu'tadid Preferred the Alids The Death of Mu'tadid The Caliphate of Muktafi Qasim's Hatred of Badr The Ransoming of Treachery The Avarice of Muktafi Nougat and Fritters Dushab and Harisa The Death of Muktafi The Caliphate of Muqtadir Hospitality The Death of Muqtadir Cyprus Seized The Caliphate of Qahir Qahir Demands a True History The Caliphate of Radi The Caliph Radi's Accomplishments Chess and Backgammon The Qualities of a General The Breeches of the Tallest Man The Marvels of Creation Arabic Words for Lavatory Black and Green The Garden of Qahir The Generosity of Radi Bajkam the Turk Coins His Own Money The Caliphate of Muttaqi The Blinding of Muttaqi Summing Up The Caliphate of Mustakfi The Unwanted Page Boy The Battle of the Flowers The Buwaihids Come to Power The Caliphate of Muti' The Rising of Utrush Mas'udi's Address to the Reader Mas'udi's Final Words Glossary Bibliography Notes Index First published in 1989. Mas'udi was born in Baghdad about 896 AD, during the Caliphate of Mu'tadid and died in Egypt sometime around the year 956, eleven years after the Buwaihids, a Shi'a dynasty of Iranian origin, had occupied Baghdad and taken control of the Caliphate. His full name was Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husain ibn Ali ibn Abd Allah al-Mas'udi and he was notable as a Muslim historian. His two major works were Meadows of Gold (Muruj al-Dhahab) and the Book of Notification (Kitab al-Tanbih). Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems (Arabic: مُرُوج ٱلذَّهَب وَمَعَادِن ٱلْجَوْهَر‎, Murūj aḏ-Ḏahab wa-Maʿādin al-Jawhar) is an historical account in Arabic of the beginning of the world starting with Adam and Eve up to and through the late Abbasid Caliphate by medieval Baghdadi historian Al-Masudi. (This translation is heavily focussed on the Abassid period due to translators' own interest.) Arabic title : Muruj ad-Dahab wa-Ma'adin al-Jawhar [v. 1]. The Abbasids By Masʻudi ; Translated And Edited By Paul Lunde And Caroline Stone. Includes Bibliographical References (v. 1, P. 437-438) And Index. First published in 1989. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company