1880 Sherif Abd al-Muṭṭalib Manuscript Map of Medina (Madinah), Saudi Arabia

A seminal map. This large-scale manuscript map is the first scientific survey of the Islamic holy city of Medina (المدينة المنورة / Madinah), in modern-day Saudi Arabia. The map was compiled for Abd al-Mutalib ibn Ghalib, Emir and Grand Sharif of Mecca, known for his pro-slavery anti-Ottoman positions, as well as for his modernization of infrastructure in both Mecca and Medina.

A Closer Look

The map is hand-drawn in black ink with watercolor wash. It is oriented to the north. The Prophet’s Mosque Al Masjid an Nabawi المسجد النبوي appears prominently just to the right of center, with a large separate key at bottom-center elaborating on its main sections, veneration sites, and monuments. The map details an array of important structures, including offices, hammams, the general fountain, separate fountains for men and women (blue), an Egyptian Palace, a military hospital, and a fortress. This last is detailed with a garden, kitchen, officer’s quarters and commissary (army store), and imperial military quarters. Tiny side streets, charmingly illustrated smaller square streets with palm trees, illustrate the city's rapid expansion and urbanization beyond the city walls. Gardens and important courtyards (Courtyard of the State, Royal Courtyard,…), are also noted.

Al-Baqi Cemetery

One significant feature of this map is its detailed representation of Al-Baqi Cemetery (Jannat al-Baqi) ٱلْبَقِيْع located on the right-hand side of the map (green wash), where the six most important tombs are identified and described in a key above. The cemetery is the oldest in the Hejazi Region. The site was personally selected by the Prophet as the site for the burial of his companion Uthman ibn Maz’un, making it the first Islamic cemetery in Medina. Over the years, it has become the burial site for numerous members of the Prophet’s family, including his wives, daughters, and grandson Hasan ibn Ali. Many of the Prophet’s companions (Sahabah) are also buried here, making it a place of great reverence for Muslims. The original cemetery was partially demolished in 1926 by the Saudi government in an attempt to promote a return to a more austere form of Islam, emphasizing simplicity and avoiding the veneration of graves. This action sparked controversy and grief among many Muslims who felt a deep connection to the historical and spiritual heritage of the cemetery. Very few representations of the cemetery survive that predate this event - this being, perhaps, the best. Today, Al-Baqi is enclosed and well-maintained, with clear pathways for visitors to walk and pay their respects.

Historical Context

This is one of two known maps of Medina made in the 19th century. Both were produced at the order of Abd al-Mutalib ibn Ghalib, the first c. 1853 during his second reign (1851 - 1856) as Emir and Grand Sharif of Mecca (see: Ömer Faruk Yilmaz, Belgelerle Osmanlı devrinde Hicaz, 2008 and Atef Alshehri, Ottoman Spatial Organization of the pre-modern City of Medina, ABE Journal, 2018), and this one in 1880, during his third reign (1880 - 1881). The present map is by far the superior, benefiting from the first scientific survey of the city, and thus is significantly larger and richer in detail and general content. Both are administrative plans, intended for the management of the holy city, civic infrastructure development, and Abd al-Mutalib ibn Ghalib's anti-Ottoman military ambitions.

The period of its manufacture coincides with waning Ottoman hegemony and the rise of the Second Saudi State (1240 - 1309 AH / 1824 - 1891 AD). Although the Arabian peninsula was under Ottoman suzerainty, the pilgrimage centers, Mecca and Medina, operated autonomously under the Emir and Grand Sharif of Mecca. As both religious sites and semi-autonomous cities, Mecca and Medina became centers of attempts to drive the Ottomans out of Arabia. Abd al-Mutalib ibn Ghalib was staunchly anti-Ottoman, allying with the puritanical Wahhabi sect, Arab tribal groups, and even foreign powers in several attempts to throw off the Ottoman yolk. Despite his efforts, and those of some successors, Arabia remained under Ottoman suzerainty until the 1916 Arab Revolt.

Publication History and Census

This manuscript is unique, with no comparable maps having ever appeared on the market, or known in institutional collections. It is signed and dated as follows:

حجاز …طقسان التى سنة رومينسی نیسانند

[A Retinue of His Holiness Sherif Abd al-Muṭṭalib Efendi, Emir of the Political State Mekka Mukarima and Mirliva (brigadier general), His Excellency Haji Pasha, Presiding Leader (Riayset) of Hejaz… in the year 96 Rumi [i. e. 1880] in April…] A once-in-a-lifetime collecting opportunity.