The concept(1) of a local or a national library is, I believe, fairly understood, even though such librairies
differ in size and scope from town to town and from a country to another. Speaking broadly one can say
that the duty of a town library should concentrate on collecting and preserving for posterity the written
production of that town or region at large. To this basic duty other duties are added, depending on a
variety of factors, such as the quality and range of the collection which from the main stock of the
library, the conception of the library's purpose, the size of the region and the existence of other
comprehensive collections within easy reach.
I regret to say that apart from a number of small individual libraries in Tripoli, there is not one of academic value in this town, whether at branches of the Lebanese University or the University of St. Joseph, or at other educational or cultural centers. Hence, the very important initiative of
the cultural league«Ar-Rabita As-Sakafiya», the worthy organization which is presently cared for by a group of Tripolitan and Northern intellectuals. We should be grate fui to them for undertaking this entreprise that will be greatly beneficial to Tripoli and the region, and their
scholars and students. In countries where learning is the subject of constant esteem
and care, such a task is undertaken by govemments
and local authorities.
We do hope this exemplary effort will be awarded material and moral support by the private and public sectors.
Needless to say that this considerable task brings to
mmd Tripoli's past glory of learning and knowledge.
The city enjoyed the acme of intellect and education
under «Banu Ammar» (1070-110
when its progress in learning surpassed its military
achievement. Abu Taleb Ben Ammar set up a famous house of learning (dur-ul-ilm) and library which contained over 100,000 valuable books(2). Some historians(3) say dur-ul-ilm existed in Tripoli before Banu Ammar, contrary to what modem writers think, as the Banu Ammar judges ruled Tripoli after 440 H. Abul-Ala Al-Maarri (363-449H.) visited Tripoli around the close of the fourth Hegira century and was acquainted with its books and treasures of learning. The first Banu Ammar judge to govern Tripoli, Abu Taleb Abdallah lived during the caliphate of the Fatimide Al-Mustansir, ca. 440 H. It is unanimously recognized that Banu Ammar greatly enriched its dur-eI-ilm. Ibn-el-Furat said Emir Ah Ben Muhammad Ibn Ammar renovated dar-ul ilm in 472 H. He was followed by Fakhr-ul-Mulk Ben Ammar who diligently followed along the course set by his dynastic predecessors, 50 much 50 that ail of Tri-poli became known as dar-ul-ilm.
Historians differ on the number of books in the library in those days when it was raided by the Crusaders. The Fatimides bujît many a dar (house) of learning to propagate Shute doctrines and graduate ulema and jurisprudents. Tripoli was a principal center of this doctrine. It proceeded with its religious, intellectual and cultural mission under Banu Ammar who held the same doctrinal views as the- Fatimides(4).
The scholar Gerji Yanni says of Tripoli,
during that
period, in the Bustani encyclopedia(5):
«In those days (when it fell to the Crusaders),
Tripoli is reported to have been prosperous in
agriculture and industry. Historians said it had around 4,000 looms,
besides its wealth of learning. They
differ on the contents of its library. Some belittle the number and some
multiply it - between 100,000 volumes and
over 3,000,000. Its contents were books on Greeks,
Romans, Persians and Arabs. One hundred scribes
worked at the library. The books were collected by the
judge
Abu Taleb Hassan who, himself, was a voluminous author.
But ail that was lost in the wake of war and conquests».
A number of historians set down 503 H. (1110 AD)
as theyear of the fali of Tripoli.
Its ruler then was Abu Ali Ben Ammar.
The faîl of Tripoli, which withstood, alone, and for
ten years, the ons-laught of the Crusaders after their
occupation of Damascus, had a thunderous echo
throughout the Islamic world. The Crusaders remained in Tripoli for 180 years, until it was taken back
by the Mameluke Sultan Al-Mansoor Qalawoon
in 1289 AD.
The Crusaders(6) laid siege to Tripoli for a long time. Tripolitans
heroically withstood the siege, suffering innumerable
horrors. When the Crusaders tightened further their blockade, starvation descended upon
the people. Crusader forces were increased and the siege prolonged until the city feu. The invaders plundered dwellings,
setting them on fire, and the great Banu Ammar lîbrary
was burned. Edward Gibbon and Pinito Olga quote
Ibn-ul-Furat who saysof the burning of the library:
«When the Crusaders entered Tripoli, they set fire to its library, as ordered by the priest who was attached to the service of Count Bertrand ben Raymond. The priest had entered the library and found it fuil of books. It appears that he had gone to the hall alloted for copies of the Roly Koran. Re opened one, and finding it was the Holy Koran, he threw it aside. He opened another, and saw it also was a Roly Koran. This was repeated around 20 times. On finding that ail copies were of the Holy Koran, he ignorantly thought the whole library only contained copies of the Koran and its Interpretation.
Re was funous and, driven by the Crusader spirit,
he ordered:
«This library is fuli of copies of the Koran. Burn it.» The orders of this bigoted priest and his Crusader prince were thus carried out. The flames totally devoured dar-ul-ilm and ail its books. The fire spread as well to the dar-uI-hikmat (house of wisdom) school and the plant for the manufacture of paper»(7).
Tripoli is known for a number of small individual
libraries(8 ), among them: the library of
Sheikh Mustapha Mikati who endowed it in 1088 H. to th e Great Mansoori Mosque; the library of
A1-Karamy, established by Mufti Abdul Hamid Karamy
1212-1297H; the library of Muhammad Pasha Al Muhammad
in the village of Mashha, in Akkar, which Sheikh Amin Izzuddin,
formerJudge of Tripoli, added to the library of the Great Mansoori Mosque; Al-Jisr library, established by Sheikh Muhammad A1-Jisr
1207-1261 H, inherited, and increased, by his chudren and grand-chudren; Al-Nashshabeh library, established by Sheikh Muhammad Nashshabeh 1228-1308, of Al-Azhar; Al-Maghribi library, which the crudite Sheikh Abdul Kader Al-Maghribi
said it contained 300 manuscripts, besides its books.
In view of the above historical data which portray the extent of the cultural progress of this ancient city, we, its citizens, should fully cooperate to reconstruct the legacy left us by our forefathers. To speak of time-honored glory is flot enough. We should be worthy of this brilliant torch and use it to light the way for our future generations. This hopeful initiative to set up Tripoli's new library is indeed deserving of ail encouragement.
References
(1) «National Libraries» - Unesco Manuals for Libraries - il «The Organisation of National Libraries» F. C. Francis, p. 21, 1960.
(2) «History of Tripoli Through The Ages» by Dr. Abdul Salam Tadmuri, 1978, p. 253.
(3) «Treasures of Arabic Literature in the World» by Vicount Philipe de Tarazi p. 139,
Also Khitab As Sham vol. 6, p. 191.
(4) Said el Diwaji, «Beit-ul-Rikmat», pp. 54-55, Mosul 1972, copied from Ibn-ul-Furat.
(5) «Tripoli Through The Ages» by Nina Jidejian, 1980, pp. 4849.
(6) Bustani Encyclopedia vol. il, pp. 241-242.
(7) A. Tadmuri p. 318.
(8) Ph. de Tarazi pp. 270-272.
