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Essential
Resources for Islamic Studies
from the universities of Bergen
(Norway), Georgia (USA) and Pennsylvania (USA)
General Reference:
EI (1), then: Encyclopaedia
of Islam first edition, 5 volumes,originally printed Leiden
1913-38. A reissue published in 9 volumes as E.J. Brill's First
Encyclopaedia of Islam, M.Th. Houtsma, T.W. Arnold, R.Basset, R.
Hartman (eds.), Leiden: Brill 1987. EI (2), the same, New edition,
Leiden: Brill 1960- . 8 volumes so far, with supplements published as
fascicles. The EI is clearly the most compact body of
information on Islam and Islamic history around, and in particular with
the extensive bibliographies. Now available on CD-ROM in the Van Pelt
Reference CD-ROM Area (old).
Printed Map Resources:
Manuscript Information:
GAL: Carl Brockelmann, Geschichteder
arabischen Literatur, 5 volumes, Leiden E.J. Brill 1937-42. The
name ("History of Arabic Literature") has fooled many into
believing this was a story about the 1001 Nights and sequels; it is in
fact an encyclopaedia of writers and writings throughout Arabic history.
In principle, every book ever written in Arabic(before 1937) should be
listed by Brockelmann. In practice, most are, with short biographies of
the authors. As EI, Brockelmann is an authority, a reference to which is
often sufficient. Unfortunately, in addition to being in German, it has
one of the most arcane reference systems known to man. If you know your
way around Brockelmann, you are an accomplished scholar. (Clue: If you
want to know what name abbreviations like " 'Aq b. S ", used
throughout, stands for, you will find the key in the middle of the text
on p. XVII of Supplement Volume I; and there only.) The work was
published, first in two volumes, then with three larger Supplement
Volumes, which repeats (most of) and expands the information in the two
first volumes. Especially for early periods, see: Fuat Sezgin, Geschichte
des arabischen Schrifttums, 9 volumes, Leiden, 1967- (translation
into Ararbic available as Tarikh al-turath al-arabi).
Biographical and
Bibliographical Information:
Kahhala and Zirikli: Often
used together, these are the most common Arabic biographical
dictionaries. Respectively: 'Umar Ridaa Kahhala, Mu'jam al-mu'allifiin.
Taraajim muSannifii al-kutub al-'arabiiya Beirut: Dar ihya al-turath al-arabi 1957-61, 15 volumes; and Khayr
al-Diin al-Ziriklii, al-A'laam.
Qamuus taraajim li-ashhar al-rijaal wa'l-nisaa' min al-'arab
wa'l-musta'ribiin wa'l-mustashriqiin, Beirut, various editions from
1927 until today, last edition 8 volumes. Zirikli is thus more up to
date. He also includes political and other personalities, as well as
many samples of authors' handwriting from the original mss. Kahhala has
the larger number of names.
References to Secondary
Literature:
Index Islamicus:
Published at the School of Oriental and African Studies (by Mansell
Press), this is a bibliographical compilation of all books and articles
written on Islam and the Islamic world in Western languages. Clearly the
first place any student starting a research topic should go to check for
sources. II covers the period from 1906 (there is a companion
volume for the pre-1906 period). Supplements have until now been
published in quarterly magazines, which are then later regrouped and
reorganized as complete volumes covering five years at a time. Now
(1999) available on CD-ROM in the Van Pelt Reference Room terminals and
searchable by subject, author, etc.
Arabic Dictionary (culled
and translated from classical Arabic dictionaries):
Lane: E.J. Lane, Arabic-English
Lexicon is what is meant when "Lane says ..." is bantered
about in polite conversation. Originally 8 volumes 1863-93, reissued in
two volumes in 1984 by the Islamic Texts Society (Cambridge). While
Lane's definitions may sometimes seem quaint, it is the most definite
English authority for classical Arabic vocabulary, up to the letter Q
(when he died).
Qur'anic Concordance:
Abd Baqi: Muhammad Fu'aad 'Abd Baaqii,
al-Mu'jam al-mufahrasli-alfaaz al-Qur'an (one
volume, many editions) is the most common concordance for the Koran. It
lists every word used in the Koran, organized by root and form, and the
various places it is used: thus you can from any quote find the verse it
appears. For English-only researchers, consult H. Kassis, A
Concordance of the Qur'an (Berkeley and Los Angeles: UC Press) and online.
Hadith Concordance:
Wensinck: A.J. Wensinck, Concordance
et indices de la tradition musulmane is the same for the Sunna (hadith). Every word used in any of the six orthodox collections, as
well as the hadith collections of al-Darimi and Ibn Maja and the Muwatta
of Malik are listed (all in Arabic), with their contexts and references.
A much larger body, it can't in reality be as precise as a Koran
concordance, but still a Wensinck reference is mostly sufficient for a
hadith. Originally published in 7 volumes in Leiden 1936-69, it is most
often found in a Beirut pirate edition -- which doesn't include the
index, volume 8, that came a few years ago. A cheaper paper edition of
all eight volumes was published by Brill, Leiden in 1992 or 1993.
Computer Catalogue:
And finally among research
tools, since many ask, "what book is written on this or that
topic?" reference must be made to Melvyl, where such questions can
generally be answered: Most people with access to e-mail, and thus this
list, can also use the telnet program for searching libary catalogues.
The largest of these is the merged California catalogue "Melvyl",
of about 8 million titles, which is very relevant for a student on the
history of Islam, as most other subjects. Open a connection to
melvyl.ucop.edu, and follow the instructions on screen. Notice that you
can get the diacritics of Arabic titles, by typing "d marc dia"
when you have found a title. Diacritics are designated by special code
numbers which are easily deciphered. Another useful thing to notice is
that the catalogue includes the date of birth and death of the author,
if known. Thus it can in a fix also be used for biographical basics.
For further print
reference tools, see R. Stephen Humphreys, Islamic History: A
Framework for Inquiry (revised ed.,
Princeton, 1991).
Compiled by Knut S. Vik|r
knut.vikor@smi.uib.no
(via Alan Godlas, University of Georgia, and updated by B.R. von
Schlegell, University of Pennsylvania)
Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies,
University of Bergen
Parkv. 22a, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
Tel. +47.55 21 27 11, Fax +47.55 31 38 45
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