El Warraq

El Warraq (Arabic: الورّاق, al-Warrāq) is an Arabic term meaning "the bookseller" or "the scribe." It traditionally referred to individuals involved in the production, copying, and selling of books in the pre-printing press era of the Islamic world. The warraqun (plural) played a vital role in the preservation and dissemination of knowledge, acting as both merchants and scholars. Their shops often served as meeting places for intellectuals and centers of learning. They were responsible for commissioning manuscripts, employing scribes and illuminators, and distributing books throughout the region. The profession often required a high level of literacy and an understanding of various subjects. Prominent warraqun sometimes became renowned for their collections or their own scholarly contributions. The term is significant in understanding the history of books, literacy, and intellectual life in the Islamic world.