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The renowned Iranian statesman, scientist, and geographer, Abu Abdullah bin Jeyhani
Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On 7th of the Islamic month of Shawwal in 311 AH, the renowned Iranian statesman, scientist, and geographer, Abu Abdullah Mohammad bin Ahmad bin Jeyhani, passed away in Bukhara, where he served as vizier of the Iranian Samanid Dynasty. It was due to his political acumen and farsighted policies that the Samanid realm was consolidated in Central Asia and Khorasan (including present-day Afghanistan), following the murder of Ahmad ibn Ismail, the second ruler and the ascension of the latter's 8-year old, Nasr ibn Ahmad. Poets and historians have eulogized him for his policies that included clemency towards his fallen foes.
His son and grandson also served as viziers. His lasting fame is indebted to the valuable works he wrote, the most important of which is in the domain of geography, titled “al-Masaalek wa’l-Mamalek”. He was said to be of Shi'ite Muslim inclinations, but the fact of the matter is that he effectively checked the activities of Ismaili Shi'ite missionaries affiliated to the Fatemid caliphate of North Africa, toward which many prominent Khorasanis and Central Asians were inclined.
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