Nakhoda Juma bin Muslim Juma Al Qaadawi Al Alawi

Born in the city of Sur (Al Ayjah) on the Omani coast at the beginning of the century, he guided many Kuwaiti ships across the Indian Ocean in the first quarter of this century. Among his maritime works are the book "The Beginning and the End in the Maritime Sciences" and the book "The Nautical Mile for Every Sea Captain", printed at Al Qayyima Press in India in 1465 AH. In its introduction he says: "To proceed: this is a chapter from a book I compiled on the science of navigation, prompted by the pressing need for such a work to be circulated among my honourable Arab brethren, to be of aid to them when they roam the seas. I had been hesitant — putting one foot forward and the other back — about completing this task, but I could not but answer the request. I have kept to brevity as far as effort allowed, and named it 'The Nautical Mile for Every Sea Captain', asking God that its benefit be widespread, and I ask everyone who reads it to overlook any oversight, for perfection belongs to God alone." From this introduction it is clear to us that he was deeply versed in the science of navigation and had great knowledge of the stars, the constellations and the maritime routes. The book's author says: "At the level of the Arab Gulf in general, there is an Arab captain from the town of Sur on the Omani coast named Juma bin Muslim Juma Al Qaadawi, who lived at the beginning of this century and has maritime writings, the most important of which is the book 'The Beginning and the End in the Maritime Sciences'." As for the book "The Beginning and the End", I was unable to find it. I do not know whether it was printed or is lost, or still lying in one of the private libraries — as is the case with many of our scattered manuscript treasures. Sources: 1- "Captains of the Arab Gulf and their Maritime Writings", pp. 29–132, by Khalid Salem Mohammed (Kuwait) 2- Afiyat Al Sawari