How to Ensure the Knowledge in Your Book is Correct: Insights from a 17th Century Moroccan Scholar

What is it about?

This article looks at how scholars in 17th century Morocco and beyond made sure that the knowledge written down in books was accurate. At that time, printing was not common, so all books had to be copied by hand. These handwritten manuscripts were the most important tools for learning and teaching. The article focuses on al-Ḥasan al-Yūsī (d. 1691) and his book *al-Qānūn*, where he writes about the importance of books for learning, the conditions for using books as a source of knowledge, and methods for checking and correcting mistakes in manuscripts. It also shows how these ideas were put into practice in an important Sufi center in Tamgrūt, in present-day Morocco, where al-Yūsī lived and worked for a couple of years. By examining these practices, the article helps us understand how scholars in the Islamic world preserved and shared knowledge before the advent of printing.

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Photo by Sohaib Al Kharsa on Unsplash

Photo by Sohaib Al Kharsa on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study is important because it shows how scholars in pre-modern Islamic societies made sure that knowledge was reliable in a time before the printing press. By looking at how they copied, corrected, and proofread handwritten manuscripts, we learn about the careful methods they used to accurately transmit knowledge from one generation to the next. It also shows how books and libraries were central to learning in these communities. This is especially relevant today as we reflect on the authenticity and trustworthiness of knowledge in a rapidly changing world.