Motives Affecting History Writing During the Period from Second Century to Fifth Century AH, As an Example (*)
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Motives Affecting History Writing During the Period from Second Century to Fifth Century AH, as an example (*) Dr. Saleh Muhammad Zeki Mahmood Al – Leheabi Assistant Professor – Department of History and Islamic Civilization University of Sharjah - United Arab Emirates Abstract This research deals with a very important subject. It focuses on the Factors affecting history writing, by Moslem historians, during the first five centuries AH. This era constitutes the foundation stage for the Moslem state. It is the most notable era in Islamic history writing. A big number of historians appeared in this period, and they established the criteria of Islamic history writing. The subject is of paramount significance. The research relies on a descriptive and analytical discussion of a huge number of historic resources, documents and texts. The research describes the role of motives controlling the attitudes and thought of Moslem historians. In addition to the impact of such motives, fully or partially, on the writing techniques and scientific attitudes of the historians. The main question is to what extent such motives became clear in the (*)The Egyptian Historian, No: Sixty -fifth, January 2020. 5 Motives Affecting History Writing During the Period writings of Moslem historians in the first five centuries AH. How they affected the progress of history writing, and what are the types and categories of such motives. In this research we will use the analytical and descriptive approach to deal with the subject in all its aspects, and to the reach required answers. Key words: (Motives , History , writing , historians) The structure of the research is as follows: First Topic: Religious and Intellectual Motives. 1 – 1 Impact of religious motives on history writing. 1 – 2 Analysis of types of Historians. 1 – 3 The impact of sectarianism in writing history Second Topic: Political, administrative and economic Motives 2 – 1 Politics, management and economics as an influential factor in history writing. 2 – 2 Appearance of Historians interested in politics, management and economics 2 - 3 The reciprocal relationship between the historian and the authority: Third Topic: Social & Scientific Motives 3 – 1 Social &Scientific Motives and their impacts on History writing 6 Dr. Saleh Muhammad Zeki Mahmood Al – Leheabi 3 – 2 Cultural and scientific Diversity and its effect on historical environment We will use a number of resources, references in addition to most recent studies. First Topic: Religious & Intellectual Motives 1 – 1 Impact of religion on History Writing No doubt, religious motives formed the corner stone of history writing in the first centuries of Islam. This was inevitable and natural as the state at that era was a religious one. Religion covered all aspects of life. This for sure was reflected clearly on history writing. Particularly, because history writing is concerned with community and life in all its details .Therefore, all purpose and motives were used to serve religion. A scrutinizing look at the initial resources of Islamic history, will guide us to the fact that history writing was purely religious .Narrators interested in the history of nations since the start of life, were trying to know how the wisdom and power of God affected them(1). In addition to the above , such historians , were affected by other religions existing before Islam such as Judaism & Christianity .The stories of people of the book covered vast spaces in the writings of first Moslem historians , under the name of Israelites ( narratives originating from Jewish traditions ) . This can be found in the stories on the start of creation or prophets stories, or stories of previous nations. This was used by story tellers, interpreters and 7 Motives Affecting History Writing During the Period others in their effort to give complementary image of history writing(2). The above mentioned can be found clearly in the narrations of some of historians and Hadith scholars during the first five centuries (AH) . The first of them was Mohammad Bin Asmaeel Al Bukhari (died in 256 AH). He adopted an accurate approach in transmitting narratives and in authoring books in Hadith and History. He said in the chapter (What was narrated about the Israelis) that the prophet said: “Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were ﷺ (PBUH) a single Aayah (Verse, sentence), and tell others the stories of Banee Israa’eel (which have been taught to you), for it is not sinful to do so. And whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire.” (3) The historic writings of religious motives appeared early, by Wahab Bin Monbih (died in 114). He was well known for being appointed as a judge in Sanaa/ Yemen, and for his knowledge of jurisdiction .He used to write about doctrines and religious aspects, in addition to his interest in history. (4) Also, we can understand the above from the biography of Obaid Bin Shariya AlJorhmi (lived in the first Hegra (Islamic calendar) century, date of his death isn’t certain). He was well known as a narrator of the narratives of old Arabian kingdoms before Islam. Moawiya Bin Abi Sofyan invited him to come from Yemen to Damascus to hear from him the narratives of previous nations and populations, and to benefit from their news, situations, and 8 Dr. Saleh Muhammad Zeki Mahmood Al – Leheabi consequences .He remained alive till the era of the Caliph Abdul Malik Bin Marwan (65 – 86 AH) .He authored the book Al Molok wa Akhbar Al Madheen “Kings and news of previous nations). (5) Such religious and cultural considerations resulted in the appearance of historic schools. Each played a certain role, and each had its approach .They are the school of AlMadina Al Monawara, and the school of Iraq (AlKofa and Al Basra) .The school of AlMadina was known for the clear religious dimension, focusing on the two fields of Hadith and expeditions and biographies . As for the school of Iraq it was famous for the appearance of news narrators and the scholars interested in general history, and genealogy. (6) 1 – 2 Analysis of types of Historians: Looking into the biography of a number of historians and the approach adopted by them, we can determine the impact of religious and intellectual motives on their writings, for example: 1 – Amer Bin Shraheel Al Shaabi (died approximately in 104AH): One of the leading historians who focused on narratives of expeditions and conquests. His narrations are scattered in many books .However, analyzing his narrations and his techniques, we discover that the religious factor was very strong. (7) 2 – Mohammad Bin Shihab Al Zuhri (died in 124 AH): One of the most famous Hadith scholars. He narrated many 9 Motives Affecting History Writing During the Period historic narratives included in prophet's biography books and Hadith books. Historic sources show us that Al Zuhri developed interest in Hadith and prophet’s biography as a result of a dispute with his Shaikh on Fiqh. Afterwards, Al Zuhri got in touch with Saeed Bin Al Musaib, and influenced by him, he started thinking of compiling the biography of the prophet as an integral part of religion. (8) 3 – Mohammad Bin Ashaq (died in 151AH): Ibn Ishaq was the first to compile, specifically, Al Sera Al Nabawiya (the biography of the prophet). This is proved through his book Serat Rasool Allah (biography of the prophet), which we find its narrations in the books of Al Sera (biography of the prophet), as well as his book (Al Maghazi “expeditions”). His books show the religious motives. His books included narratives of people of the book, historical events that took place before the era of the prophet (PBUH), then expeditions and biography of the prophet, proving his clear and express religious motives, which are the basics of his history writing. (9) 4 – Mohammad Bin Ismaeel Al Bukhari (256 AH): His book Al Tarikh Al Kabir (the grand history) proves clearly his religious motives .It is a biography of narrators of Hadith. Later, he will use this book to author his most important book Sahih Al Bukhari. His arrangement of the book shows his religious background, as he put the biography of anybody with the name of Mohammad at the start of the book, starting with the prophet 10 Dr. Saleh Muhammad Zeki Mahmood Al – Leheabi Mohammad (PBUH) in appreciation and respect of his position, and then anybody called Mohammad. (10) 1 – 3 The impact of sectarianism in writing history Throughout the history, Muslim community has witnessed the emergence of new creeds and doctrines, each of which had its own point of view of history and it’s own judging angles. It was noticed that some events were distorted from their reality, some were added to, some were totally made up! Particularly the religious differences that were based on the perception of the rightful person to rule the people in all matters including their faith under the name of Caliphate. This has significantly influenced the people who are interested in promoting their views, fanatics and doctrines through their interpretation of history in a way that meets their ambitions and satisfy their doctrinal and ideological aspirations, especially after the huge conflict between the Umayyads and Alawites that created writers revere the Alawites and therefore adopted the Shiite thought in the writing of history, and other writers adopted the advocacy of the Umayyads as they are the rightful rulers and obeying them is a legal obligation from their point of view. The same happened when the dispute occurred between the Umayyad and Abbasid, a group of writers were supporting the Abbasid and came up with their own doctrine theory and they used it to undermine the religious idea that the Umayyads were using to empower themselves.