What Should They Do? Depictions of Ribāṭ and Murābiṭūn in Early Islamic Ifrīqiya
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This article sheds light on different views of the ribat and building institution, including its function and significance in early Islamic society. It also compares the expectations reflected in various texts, by underlining the historical context or the perspective of the writer. Also, the study points out the ribat in the Ifriqiyan tradition and the developments of the institutions in the wider Islamic Empire and its intellectual tradition. In this perspective, it is a great contribution to Islamic studies and Islamic history in Ifriqiya.
Author Response
Thank you for this report. I will try to present the results more clearly in the draft revision.
Reviewer 2 Report
This is a well-written and researched piece of work which draws on a range of textual and material sources to contribute to the literature of the ribāṭs of Ifrīqiya. I have a few minor comments: the discussion is generally clear but the section on women in ribāṭs could be edited slightly to make it clearer that references to women relate primarily to non-Ifrīqiyan ribāṭs, or those where settlements had developed, from the outset. Al-Māzirī might be more accurately rendered al-Māzarī. With respect to Ibn ʿIdhārī, (early 14th C.) care should be taken with respect to his account of the founding of Qayrawān. At the least his late date should be noted.
Author Response
Thank you for these comments and for the suggestions for improvement. I will include these in the revision, particularly the reference to the women and to Ibn ʿIdhārī. It is certainly important to stress that he is a later source and more problematic because of this.
Reviewer 3 Report
I think this is an excellent, rich article that can be followed with clarity. However, I have a number of recommendations for content and structural editing.
Content: The author does not really engage with the literature (primary or secondary) on the ribat outside of Ifriqiya. A paragraph to this end seems vital to me. Although the author mentions the role of Sufism in the other parts of Islamic Empire as a reason for the transformation of the ribat into a center for learning and piety by the 11th century in Ifriqiya, this is done only in passing. The article thus lacks a comparative perspective, the inclusion of which would significantly add to the article.
Structure:
I highly recommend the use of section headings. Moreover, sometimes transitions between paragraphs are a bit awkward and the paragraphs seem disconnected. This can be improved with better topic sentences in the beginning of some paragraphs.
Author Response
Thank you for these suggestions and for your careful review. Although the scope of the article does not allow for extensive engagement with the ribat outside Ifriqiya, I will include more information indicating the importance of comparison. You are correct in saying that this is vital to understanding the subject, and the article should make that clear.
Thank you also for your comment about structure and paragraph transitions. I will bear them in mind when I am revising the article.
