Ahmed Baba The Black
Beloved Scholar of Timbuktu

Vocabulary:

• Philosopher: one who studies the principles and truths of human life
  
• Polymath: a scholar in several fields of study
  
• Scholar: one who has studied and gained deep knowledge of a particular subject
  

Ahmed Baba Institute in Timbuktu, Mali, Africa

Timbuktu, a city in the country of Mali, was a center of Islamic scholarship in West Africa. Abu al-Abbas Ahmed al-Takruri al-Massufi al-Timbukti, more commonly known as Ahmed Baba the Black, was one of the most respected scholars of Timbuktu. He was born in 1556.

Ahmed Baba was a professor, Quranic philosopher, master of Arabic, and polymath. He was devoted to studying and became very knowledgeable in many subjects. Ahmed Baba collected over one thousand six hundred (1,600) books in his personal library. He wrote over forty (40) books on different subjects. Ahmed Baba worked to unify Muslims by speaking against racism and the enslavement of Muslims.

Can you believe that someone collected so many books? How many books have you read? What book would you like to read next?

Interesting Facts:

• There is a public library and research center in Timbuktu named the Ahmed Baba Institute. It possesses more than 18,000 manuscripts.
  
• There is  a crater on the planet Mercury named after Ahmed Baba.

Photo Credits: upyernoz