The image of Omani society according to Al-Maqdisi (380 AH/990 AD) through his book (Ahsan Al-Taqasim fi Ma’rifat Al-Aqalim)

Travel books are one of the most prominent scholarly sources in historical writing. Travel books, or so-called travel literature, constitute an added value alongside other primary sources in writing the cultural history of nations and peoples because of the historical knowledge they contain about human social, economic, and cultural life that may have been overlooked or ignored in political and military history books. Accordingly, this study aims to draw an image of Omani society and the aspects of social and economic life in it through the book Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Marifat al-Aqilam by al-Maqdisi, 380 AH/990 AD.The study consists of three main sections. The first section deals with introducing Al-Maqdisi and his book, the second section is devoted to discussing the economic life aspects in Oman as described by Al-Maqdisi. While the last section deals with the nature of social life in Oman and family life aspects, customs, and traditions. The conclusion section deals with the most important resul