Regarding the twists and turns of the first engagements in Europe, it was primarily the Spanish geographer Ishāq ibn al-Husayn ${ }^{2}$ who explicitly mentioned  
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[^0]:    2 Apart from his first name and his father's name, we know little about the precise identity of this author. None of the major biobibliographical works, such as al-Fibrist of Ibn al-Nadīm, the Muldjam of Yākūt al-Himiyarī or Ibn Khallikān's Wafayāt, mention him. Apparently, Ishāq ibn al-Husayn may have served as a source for Ibn Khaldūn, since he is quoted twice in his Mukaddima about the geography of the seven climates, as Ishāq ibn al-Hasan al-Khāzinī. According to Ibn Khaldūn, 'he is one of the most distinguished geographers'. He also specifies that the geographer al-Idrīsī was inspired by him to write his book, dedicated to the Norman king, Roger of Sicily (cf. Ibn Khaldūn, 2000, pp. 86-7). We also find him quoted by the same Ibn Khaldūn with a variant of the name (Ibn Ishāk al-Munadjdjdjim, the astronomer): (cf. Ibn Khaldūn, 2006, vol. I, p. 5; A. Codazzi, 1929, p. 379).  
the presence of black soldiers on Spanish soil, writing in around $340 \mathrm{AH} / 950 \mathrm{CE}$ in his work Akkām al-murdiān fí dhikri al-madā̉ini al-mashhtrrati fi kulli makān  
After Tārik had crossed the sea, he went to the rock that bears his name. Then the black slaves (Sudans) moved forward to fight. On seeing their terrifying shape, the Goths were panicked. The Sudans seized the imprisoned Goths, slaughtered them and pretended to eat them, which increased their fear and dread (Iṣhāq ibn al-Husayn, A. Codazzi (trans.) 1929, pp. 413-4).