Abd al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husayn Masudi (d. 956), was an Arab historian, geographer, and philosopher. Born in Baghdad, he traveled in Spain, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, and China and spent his last years in Syria and Egypt. His Muruj adh-Dhahab (meadows of gold), is a compilation of his travel observations and studies. It embraces social and literary history, discussions of religions, and geographic descriptions.
An expert geographer, a physicist and historian, Masu'di was born in the last decade of the 9th century A.D., his exact date of birth being unknown.
Masu'di is referred to as the Herodotus and Pliny of the Arabs.
By presenting a critical account of historical events, he initiated a change in the art of historical writing, introducing the elements of analysis, reflection and criticism, which was later on further improved by Ibn Khaldun.
Masudi, the murdered John Jephson and another business partner, Peter Ewert, were in the DRC surveying the land for which they had recently been granted a mining concession.
Masudi was hit three times in the upper leg, while Ewert lost his left eye and was also shot in a knee.
Masudi said he knew who the organiser of the attack was but was unwilling to divulge details - except that the man was considered an "untouchable" in the DRC.
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