The Arab Scientific Heritage Revival Center at University of Baghdad organized a seminar on Sunday morning, April 19, 2026, entitled “Ahmad ibn Fadlan: Between the Journey of the Past and the Explorations of the Present.” The seminar was delivered by Lecturer Dr. Sundus Zaidan Khalaf, a faculty member at the Center, as part of its scientific activities aimed at highlighting the exploratory legacy of Arabs and Muslims. The event was held at the Nabeela Abdul Munim Dawood Hall.
During the seminar, the researcher discussed Ibn Fadlan’s journey as a historical account reflecting the depth of cultural and human connections between the Arab-Islamic civilization and other nations. She explained that this journey was not merely a record of a geographical route, but rather stemmed from a humanistic and global perspective in engaging with the “other,” grounded in the values of communication established by Islam.
She also focused on analyzing the relationship between the Abbasid Caliphate and its neighboring regions in Central Asia, extending to the remote areas of the Volga basin. Furthermore, she carefully reviewed Ibn Fadlan’s recorded observations of various peoples and ethnic groups, most notably the Volga Bulgars, the Rus, the Slavs, and the Khazars.
The researcher concluded that this journey represents a rare anthropological document that has contributed to understanding the social and political structures of the peoples of Northern and Central Asia, emphasizing the importance of drawing inspiration from such experiences to promote intercultural dialogue and contemporary exploration.
