The Chronicle Of The Seeker By Mahmud Kati

Jacob Cooper
Mrs. Sage
World Civilizations
5 December 2017
The Chronicle of the Seeker
About the Author:
Mahmud Kati greatly influenced ideas and details regarding the prominent conqueror of the wealthy West African Mali Empire. Throughout Kati’s life, he lived as an African Muslim scholar credited with the Timbuktu Chronicles. Kati is most famous for his accounts on Mansa Musa, in which Kati describes Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324-1325 (Andrea and Overfield 229). Through oral tradition, Kati is said to have started composing his writings based upon Musa’s journey in 1519, and wrote until his death; he lived for approximately 125 years. Following his death, his sons and grandsons continued his legacy and helped spread the story of Islam
During this time, approximately 200 years following Musa’s death, Kati put on record that “in his lifetime and beyond, he was known for his extravagant wealth and spending, funded by his kingdom’s vast salt and gold mines” (Mansa Musa). In Musa’s lifetime throughout his Mali Empire, he was well-known for his extravagant hajj to Mecca. People were inspired by Musa’s achievements and high aspirations that many began to follow his path of “[joining in] and affirming the unity of the family of Islam” (Andrea and Overfield 228). The spread of Islam thrived in Mali during this time primarily because of Musa’s popularity. Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca provided a way for Muslims to join “a vast multitude of other pilgrims in a mass celebration of devotional activities” (Andrea and Overfield 228). The trip to Mecca is believed
The voyage to Mecca will supposedly bring one closer to God, and will help one to unify and direct their thoughts and prayers to Allah. Rulers in this period of time usually did not make such travels, however Musa was convinced to abide by the certain tenants of faith. Musa’s hajj consisted of a massive entourage which consisted of roughly 8,000 men (Andrea and Overfield 230). Along with the men, Musa had around eighty to one hundred camels; each one carrying close to 300 pounds of gold. On his mission to Mecca to praise Allah, he bribed people with gold and built Mosques to help increase followers of Islam. According to contemporary accounts, “in every town where [Musa] stopped on Friday between [Mali] and Egypt he built a mosque on that very day” (Andrea and Overfield 230). Many citizens followed Musa due to his strong leadership and offering people gold out of the good of his heart. Wealthy people at this time, were looked upon as very superior and well liked. Every lunch and dinner, Musa “ate fresh fish and fresh vegetables” which shows his true abundance of wealth and why he had such a monumental importance. The Mali peoples’ stay included a profound effect in the Egyptian economy where Musa was too generous and gave away an excessive amount of gold. The excessive amounts of gold given away caused the economy to crash and a large amount of people became poor. In one