The Culture of Rihla in al-Andalus: Traces of Knowledge and Travel in Ibn Bashkuwal's al-Sila

Abstract

This study examines the role played by rihla (scholarly travels) in the development of Islamic sciences in al-Andalus, based on the information found in Ibn Bashkuwal's work, al-Sila. Although al-Andalus was geographically located at the westernmost boundary (Maghreb) of the Islamic world, it established strong connections with the major centers of learning in the East (al-Mashriq), thereby enriched its scientific and cultural heritage. The primary aim of this study is to analyze the nature of scholarly journeys from al-Andalus to the East, using Ibn Bashkuwal's biographical work al-Sila, and to assess the impact of these travels on the formation and development of Islamic sciences in al-Andalus. In the study, the biographies of 1,552 scholars recorded in Ibn Bashkuwal's work were examined, and it was identified 412 scholars who traveled to the East for educational purposes. Among the visited des-tinations, Mecca (239 visits), Egypt (187 visits), and Kairouan (86 visits) stand out. In this context, the motivations behind these journeys, preferred travel routes, and their scholarly activities undertaken in the visited regions are analyzed in detail. The main thesis of this study posits that scholarly journeys were a decisive factor in shaping the intellectual tradition of al-Andalus and that, over time, al-Anda-lus contributed to the establishment of its distinct scholarly identity. In particular, the teaching and interpretation of works from the East in al-Andalus strengthened the region's intellectual autonomy. However, a decline in rihla activities was observed after the year 500/1107, which was linked to the weakening of scholarly centers in the East and the increasing self-sufficiency of Andalusian intellec-tual production. The findings indicate that scholarly journeys were not merely an individual pursuit of knowledge but rather served as a crucial mechanism in the intellectual and cultural formation of al-Andalus. In conclusion, the scholarly interaction between al-Andalus and the Eastern Islamic world was not confined to the mere transfer of knowledge; it also played a crucial role in the broader process of civilization-building.