History of Islam Vol 3 of 3 by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

138 The History of Islam
the city
clean. Attractive and graceful gardens dotted the city and the
countryside. The city had approximately one hundred and thirteen
thousand houses excluding palaces and citadels of the Caliph,
Ministers and Nobles. Besides, the city had eighty thousand and four
hundred shops, seven hundred mosques, nine hundred public baths
and four thousand and three basement warehouses for
preserving
merchaiKlise and commercial commodities. Cordova had men,
garments and coins of from all countries. The city was twenty-four
miles long and six miles wide and stretched along the banks of
Guadalquivir (Wadi al Kabir). The main city was strongly fortified
and covered an area of fourteen square miles. If anyone covered ten
miles in a straight direction passing through the bazaars, he would
find his path completely lighted by glittering lamps. No one could
draw a parallel between Cordova and any other city on the earth. No
other city had handwritten books and manuscripts in such large
numbers, as Cordova possessed. Fresh mountain water entered the
city through pipes, which covered a distance of two and half miles. A
network of water pipes spread throughout the city. Every madrasa,
mosque and inn had a separate set of pipes at their gate. Seven big
gates of the city were kept locked. The city was divided into five parts
within the fortifications each of them had their own separate
fortification. Among those five parts, one was the royal palace. It had
its own citadel where the caretakers of the royal administration lived.
Not only in Cordova but all over Spain there were no beggars asking
for alms.
Sultan Abdur Rahman III had shifted to Zahra city during
the last days of his rule. Hus city near Cordova had assumed a
separate position and left Cordova behind in beauty and grandeur
Spam then abounded
f“ in fruits of all kinds, which were very cheap in
8e
Poet "r^ r ° “lieges were running in the capital,
‘nte
'
were held fn
.UeClUal S alherin 8 s academic discussions
rZded bv .h
of atih-n
l ctn PhyS ;
lodcimTT
y PUC“- "*“• beings were patronized and
CrA PhilOS°PherS ' iUriStS - Molars of SEZ
y th pnnces ' nobles and toe Caliph himself. The presence
S ° Qur an enli 8htened Cordova. Boarding and
lodging expenses of all the pupils were paid for from the "royal