In technical terms, history is the science through which we
learn about the lives of kings, prophets, conquerors, and notable figures, as
well as the significant events and customs of past eras. It serves as a means
to understand the social, ethical, and cultural aspects of bygone times. Some
define history as the study of human societies living together, referred to as
civilization or "madinah," and the various conditions that naturally
affect them. These events are recorded as historical accounts, passed down from
predecessors to successors as lessons and examples. Others suggest that the
word "history" (tareekh) derives from reversing the root word for
delay (takhir), meaning to relate earlier times to later ones, such as noting
when a religion, empire, or battle emerged. In essence, history consists of
events and accounts recorded in relation to time.
The Need for History
History acquaints us with the lives of our ancestors,
igniting a blessed enthusiasm in our hearts and minds. Human nature has an
inherent curiosity that drives us to explore countries, gardens, mountains, and
deserts. This same curiosity compels children to listen to bedtime stories and
adults to enjoy tales of adventure. It also aligns with the Quranic command,
“Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know” (Quran 16:43), encouraging the
study of historical books. Recognizing this natural inclination, the Creator
infused divine scriptures with historical narratives. The Israelites, once a
great nation who claimed, “We are the children of God and His beloved” (Quran
5:18), fell into degradation as they forgot their ancestors’ history. Thus,
Allah repeatedly addressed them with, “O Children of Israel, remember” (Quran
2:40), reminding them of their forebears’ stories.
Benefits of History
Studying history elevates courage, fosters determination,
encourages virtuous deeds, and deters wrongdoing. It enhances wisdom,
foresight, prudence, and caution. It alleviates sorrow and brings joy.
Historical study strengthens the ability to uphold truth and refute falsehood,
sharpens decision-making, and instills patience and steadfastness, keeping the
mind and heart fresh and vibrant. In short, history is a profound preacher and
a supreme source of lessons. Through it, one feels present in the assemblies of
kings, conquerors, prophets, saints, philosophers, and scholars, benefiting
from their wisdom. It helps avoid the mistakes of past leaders, and no other
science can be studied with such joy and without fatigue as history.
Preserving National Traits Through History
A nation well-versed in its historical events and past
achievements preserves its unique traits and distinctions. Such knowledge
prevents its people from losing heart in any challenge, reinforcing their
resolve and enabling them to reclaim lost virtues. A person ignorant of their
ancestors’ history might betray trust when opportunity arises, but one aware of
their forebears’ integrity—such as a grandfather who prioritized honor over
wealth—finds it difficult to act dishonorably. Similarly, someone unaware of
their ancestors’ bravery might flee the battlefield, but one who knows their
forebears’ heroic stands will be restrained by their legacy. The same applies
to virtues like loyalty, truthfulness, chastity, modesty, and generosity.
Knowledge of ancestors’ deeds fosters peace and vitality in nations. Some
neighboring nations, lacking a glorious history, resort to fabricating stories
and presenting them as history to achieve similar ends, heedless of the shame
this brings in the eyes of honest historians.
History and Noble Lineage
Since history records the virtues of the good and the vices
of the wicked, those from ignoble families have little love for it. Noble
nations remember their ancestors’ distinguished deeds, which they consider
essential to maintaining their dignity. Base nations, over time, forget even
their ancestors’ noble actions. For a family or nation whose forebears excelled
in worship, valor, knowledge, or prestige, recalling these deeds can inspire
resolve and honor. However, this is not possible for ignoble nations. Thus,
those passionate about history are often noble, high-born, and virtuous. No
ignoble, atheistic, or cowardly person has ever been a great historian.
The Historian
The best historian is one with sound faith and a pure
religion, who records events accurately without omission or exaggeration. Where
there is a risk of misunderstanding, they may clarify the truth. A historian
must avoid flattery or enmity, writing in a simple, clear, and natural style.
Ornate or poetic language often obscures the purpose of historiography, which
is why histories written in verse are generally deemed unreliable. A historian
must be distinguished in honesty, integrity, truthfulness, and good conduct,
avoiding falsehood and frivolity. Compiling history requires immense effort,
yet certainty is not guaranteed. A historian must be knowledgeable in
astronomy, geography, civilization, and world religions, as well as
intelligent, insightful, just, eloquent, and articulate. Despite these
qualities, some challenges, such as interpreting ambiguous accounts, remain
nearly insurmountable. For example, a report of someone attending a theater
could imply various motives—enjoyment of music, admiration of beauty, love for
an actress, meeting a friend, researching a topic, opposing theater, undercover
work, or even pickpocketing. Each possibility requires corroboration, and a
biased historian may favor one conclusion, ignoring contrary evidence and
leading readers astray.
Readers of History
Just as compiling history is challenging, studying it and
deriving proper benefit is no easy task. Readers should view historical
accounts as a source of lessons, learning from past mistakes to avoid them and
embracing the virtues that led to success. Condemning or cursing the deceased
is ungentlemanly, but expressing love, praying for them, or interpreting their
faults charitably is commendable. Traveling to historical sites and studying
history are similar, but reading history yields greater insights in less time
than physical exploration. However, the more biased a reader is, the less they
benefit from historical study.
Sources of History
Historical sources are generally divided into three categories:
1. Written Records: Books, diaries, official documents, decrees, and judgments.
2. Oral Traditions: Stories, poems, and proverbs passed down verbally.
3. Archaeological Remains: Ruins, forts, inscriptions, ancient weapons, coins, and artifacts.
Utilizing these sources requires exceptional intelligence,
effort, passion, and insight, as well as knowledge of a nation’s customs,
habits, and geography.
Types of History
History can be classified in various ways. By scope, it is divided into:
Ø General History: Covering the history of all humanity.
Ø Specific History: Focusing on a single nation, dynasty, or event.
By quality, it is divided into:
Ø Narrative History: Based on eyewitness accounts or reliable narrations, considered the most valuable and accurate, requiring minimal speculation.
Ø Analytical History: Compiled from archaeological and oral sources or logical deductions, such as histories of ancient Egypt, Iraq, or Persia. These are useful but lack certainty.
Historical Eras
Some historians divide history into three eras:
1. Ancient Era: From the world’s creation to the fall of the Roman Empire.
2. Medieval Era: From the fall of Rome to the conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmet II.
3. Modern Era: From the conquest of Constantinople onward.
Events are often dated relative to significant milestones,
such as the creation of Adam, Noah’s flood, Jesus’ birth, Vikramaditya’s era,
or Prophet Muhammad’s migration (Hijra). Today, the Christian and Islamic
(Hijri) calendars are most widely used.
Islamic History
Among all nations and religions, only Islam and Muslims
possess a complete, authentic history from beginning to end, free from doubt.
Muslims have meticulously recorded events from the time of Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him) to the present, with no negligence. They take
pride in compiling their history from contemporary historians and eyewitnesses,
with narrations reaching the level of tawatur (undeniable authenticity). Muslim
historians exercised such care that they recorded events as they were, avoiding
personal opinions to prevent influencing readers or diminishing the events’
true impact. The grandeur of Islamic history is evident when tested against
rational principles and intellectual scrutiny, revealing no flaws or
imperfections.
The History of Histories
The ruins of Babylon and Nineveh, the pillars of Adaram in
the Najd desert, Egypt’s pyramids, and Bamiyan’s statues spark curiosity about
their creators. Attempts to chronicle Babylonian history rely on incomplete
traditions. Egyptian hieroglyphs and inscriptions provide some insight into the
builders of the pyramids. Texts like the Zend-Avesta, Vedic scriptures, the
Bible, Ramayana, and Mahabharata offer partial, often unreliable, accounts.
Proverbs, stone tools, metal artifacts, statues, mummies, Ashoka’s pillars,
Ellora’s caves, Sarnath’s idols, Persepolis’ ruins, and China’s Great Wall
collectively provide faint historical glimpses, though not comprehensive
illumination.
Hindu myths, Egyptian inscriptions, Chinese traditions,
Persian ruins, Greek writings (notably Herodotus), Jewish narratives, and Arab
traditions form the foundational elements of history. The conquests of
Alexander the Great mark a clearer historical period, with less discontinuity.
While studying Greece, Egypt, and Persia delights historians, India’s
historical opacity frustrates them, as its people often blended myth with
truth. In contrast, Arabia’s commitment to accurate traditions, genealogies, and
precise event narration stands out, making its pre-Islamic traditions a
valuable historical resource.
The True Beginning of History
With the revelation of the Quran, Arabia rose to prominence,
overshadowing all other civilizations, which crumbled like “scattered dust”
(Quran 25:23). The meticulous preservation of Hadith and the development of
sciences like narrators’ biographies mark the true beginning of history. Muslim
historians compiled works covering every aspect of civilization and society,
with unmatched attention to accuracy. Muslims also contributed significantly to
documenting other nations’ histories. The science of historiography owes its
elevation to Muslims, particularly Ibn Khaldun, whose principles continue to
earn global reverence. As Muslim scholarship waned, European historians, their
students, partially filled the gap.
History of Empires
Unlike other creatures, humans are not limited by innate
abilities but can expand their potential through effort, constantly progressing
from lowliness to greatness. Those who achieve greater heights, though not
absolutely perfect, are relatively superior, yet always aware of their
imperfections due to the infinite potential for growth. Human nature inclines
toward servitude to the ultimate source of progress, as stated: “I have not
created jinn and mankind except to worship Me” (Quran 51:56). This inclination
leads to acknowledging a relatively superior human as a leader, forming the
basis of kingship and governance. A king is a representative of Allah’s
authority, but only Allah possesses absolute perfection, free from all flaws
and endowed with all virtues.
Humans, aware of their imperfections, naturally incline
toward obedience. The Quran commands: “Obey Allah, obey the Messenger, and
those in authority among you” (Quran 4:59). A leader must possess relative
excellence, but human fallibility allows for misuse of power, leading to
conflicts and turmoil when unworthy individuals assume leadership. Governance
is divided into spiritual (prophethood) and temporal (kingship). The Quran
highlights Talut’s (Saul’s) appointment as king due to his superiority in knowledge
and physical strength (Quran 2:247) and David’s victory over Goliath, earning
him kingship and wisdom (Quran 2:251). Historically, physical strength and
valor were primary qualifications for leadership, later supplemented by
intellectual and moral qualities. A ruler must be the finest human, and unrest
arises when an unworthy person ascends the throne.
Personality and Democracy
Humans, as the noblest of creation, are naturally inclined
to follow a superior being, guiding them toward monotheism and away from false
deities. Satan’s greatest deception was convincing humans to prioritize lineage
over merit for leadership, leading to unqualified heirs assuming power and
oppressing the worthy. This error caused widespread chaos, which Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) rectified by demonstrating ideal
governance. His Companions, trained in his teachings, selected the most
qualified leaders, breaking the tradition of hereditary rule. Abu Bakr’s
selection of Umar and Umar’s choice of Uthman were based on merit, though
Uthman’s favoritism toward relatives caused some unrest. The Prophet’s 23-year
leadership and the subsequent Rashidun Caliphate (1-23 AH) set a model for
rulers.
After the Rashidun era, human weakness and Satanic deception
reintroduced hereditary rule, making governance a privilege of specific
families rather than the deserving. This led to unqualified rulers, forcing
people to endure hardships to remove them. Frustrated, some turned to modern
democracies like those in France and the USA, which, while appealing, are not
ideal. Islam’s proposed system, a blend of personal leadership and democratic
principles, was exemplified in the Rashidun Caliphate. A leader is chosen
through collective agreement, guided by Quran and Sunnah, ensuring the most
qualified person governs. The ruler enforces divine laws, can be corrected if
erring, but is obeyed in lawful matters. This system avoids the excesses of
pure democracy, which undermines spirituality and morality, and hereditary
rule, which elevates the unworthy.
Our Starting Point
Muslim historians often begin with Prophet Adam or the
creation, but I start with Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him),
as pre-Islamic history is less certain and historiography was less developed.
Moreover, in common understanding, Islam begins with him, though in reality, it
existed since Adam. The Prophet’s life, the Rashidun Caliphate, and subsequent
Islamic history are meticulously documented, offering a complete and authentic
record unmatched by any other nation.
History and Geography
Geography is closely tied to history, and modern histories
often include it. Biographers of the Prophet included Arabia’s geography for
context. However, a concise Islamic history covering the entire Muslim world
makes extensive geographical inclusion challenging. I assume readers have
access to maps, but I plan to include relevant maps where necessary. Details of
pre-Islamic Arabia, its tribes, and customs are kept brief. For the Prophet’s
life, I prioritize Hadith over historical texts, using sources like Al-Tabari,
Ibn al-Athir, Al-Masudi, Abu al-Fida, Ibn Khaldun, and As-Suyuti to compile a
reliable summary. Post-Abbasid decline, regional Islamic histories are drawn
from contemporary sources, occasionally referencing Christian historians for
corroboration, though their works are less reliable due to their casual
approach to accuracy.