Problematical Aspects of Islamic Navigation in the Period of
Umar B. Al – Khattab: A Study of Narratives
Abdalla Omari and Numan Jubran, Faculty of Arts, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
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Abstract
Different Studies dealt with Islamic Navigation and its origins.They tried to explain the reasons behind its rise on the one hand and to show the correct date of that rise, on the other. It is worth noting that Islamic Navigation – according to most studies – was originated during the period of the third Rashidi Caliph, Uthman, at the advice of Muawiyah, his governor of al – Sham. One of the disputed arguments included in these studies, was that Umar's refusal came after an explanation was sent to him by Amr, governor of Egypt, about the dangers of Navigation. In other words, Umar, the Caliph, was described as an ignorant of the sea and of navigation. This study is an attempt to show that these arguments are inaccurate. Umar knew the sea very well. He refused early Navigation attempts because he cared about his soldiers, because the Mediterranean was unfamiliar and unknown sea to Muslims, because he followed a policy of slowing down the Islamic conquests, and because of Byzantine domination in the Mediterranean.