One of the four museums in Harar, Arthur Rimbaud, has a collection of Documents, Books, and Research Papers in its archive. This file lists some of the records of the museum.

Unesco. International Scientific Committee for the Drafting of a General History of Africa The Horn of Africa (P.85) Stage in the development Islam and its dissimination:……. Ethiopia’s relations with the Muslim world by: E. CERULLII (P.575) “The Sultanate of Ifat: The Sultanate of Ifat, which thus succeeded that of Shoa in the hegemony over Islam of Southern Ethiopia, was ruled by a dynasty which had the name (of local origin) of Walasma. They came firstly into Ifat as refugees from the ancient Muslim state of Damut, as Ibn Khaldun testifies. However, the Walasma dynasty also boasted a distant Arab origin and, according to the oral tradition preserved to our times, considered it progenitor to be ‘Akil ibn Abi Talib, brother of Caliph ‘Ali and of Djafar ibn Abi Talib who, as we have seen, had been one of the first Muslims to take refuge in Ethiopia……….”

Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi (c. 1506 – February 21, 1543) was an Imam and General of Adal who defeated Emperor Lebna Dengel of Ethiopia. Nicknamed Gurey in Somali and Gragn in Amharic (Graññ), both meaning "the left-handed," he embarked on a conquest which brought three-quarters of Ethiopia under the power of the Muslim Kingdom of Adal during the Ethiopian-Adal War from 1529-43. He was known as Sahib al-Fath (the conqueror) among his Muslim subjects, and as Imam Ahmad. He used Ottoman Empire military tactics to train his soldiers. Imam Ahmad's success in Ethiopia led to an early European intervention in Africa when the Ethiopian Emperor asked the Portuguese to assist in repelling the Muslim army. He is remembered by Somalis as a national hero, by Ethiopians as a ferocious and unwelcome conqueror. This mixed legacy is an example of how events and lives are differently regarded by different people. Whether someone is a hero or a villain depends on who tells the story, or on who writes the history. His empire ended with his own death. Initially, the Imam attacked Ethiopia in retaliation for an attack on his own Sultanate, then continued to subjugate Ethiopia. His motive appears to have been religious, since he called for a jihad against Ethiopia, which can be regarded as a defensive war, or as a call to extend the borders of the Islamic world. Al-Ghazi is used as a title by Muslim soldiers who help to spread the faith of Islam.

(From Page 42) “In the first place I hired a hut belonging to a Mohamedan woman a native of the place, a widow with two children; her husband had been killed on his way to Harrar by the Adaiel. Her name was Miriam; she acted as my housekeeper, so that I had not the trouble of attending the markets. The hut was nearly circular, with a sort of box attached to it about ten feet in diameter; my bed was placed in the box or recess. There was a rude court on one side for visitors, the kitchen on the other side; so that it at once formed bedroom, parlour, and kitchen. It wag so scantily thatched that it would keep out neither wind nor rain— quite a Jack Straw's house. A few evenings after I had taken up my abode there, Hajji Sayad being in the hut, my worthy hostess, having prepared coffee and burnt frankincense, asked Sayad to say a prayer; he quoted part of the Koran, and concluded with " May the Most High God protect and preserve him from all his enemies, and may he return to his father's house in peace!" my hostess continually repeating " Ameen, Ameen." I was indeed much affected, for they both appeared to be sincere. During a sojourn of three months I experienced many acts of kindness from these poor people; verily they acted the part of good Samaritans.”