Al bidaya wa nihaya ibn kathir biography

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Zuhayli, Muhammad. 1300–1373 CE), a prominent figure of the Mamluk era in Syria.^[1] This 14th-century work, structured across fourteen volumes, chronicles Islamic history from the creation of the universe and the stories of the prophets to the author's contemporary events, extending into eschatological prophecies about the end of time.^[2] Ibn Kathir's methodology emphasizes authenticity, drawing primarily from the Qur'an, authentic hadith, and reliable narrations while critically rejecting fabricated traditions, Israeli tales, and unreliable sources to ensure brevity and comprehensiveness.^[2] Influenced by his teacher Ibn Taymiyyah's traditionalist approach, the text reframes early Islamic narratives through a Sunni lens, often critiquing earlier historians and rehabilitating figures like the Umayyads amid sectarian tensions.^[3] As a cornerstone of Islamic historiography, Al-Bidaya wa l-Nihaya stands out for its rigorous source criticism, inclusion of prophetic biographies, and prophetic insights into future events, making it an authoritative reference that prioritizes doctrinal purity over expansive regional details beyond the core Islamic heartlands.^[1]

Author

Ibn Kathir's Life

Ismail ibn Kathir, also known as Abu al-Fida' Isma'il ibn 'Umar ibn Kathir al-Qurashi al-Dimashqi, was born around 701 AH (1301 CE) in the village of Majdal near Busra in southern Syria, during the Mamluk Sultanate.^[4][5] His father, a local khatib (preacher), died when Ibn Kathir was four years old, leaving him under the care of his brother, who supported his early education.

Ibn Kathir.

Volume 10: From 126 Hijri year to 248 Hijri year. (1994). Throughout, Ibn Kathir highlights the caliphs' adherence to prophetic sunnah while critiquing emerging divisions.^[3]A significant portion addresses the biographies of the Sahaba (companions), emphasizing their virtues, scholarly contributions, and roles in transmitting Islamic knowledge.

After his father's death, Ibn Kathir and his brother moved to Damascus in 706 AH (c. Calendar - Azaan - Urdu Keyboard

Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya - Tarikh ibn Kathir

Here are two versions of Islamic history book Al Bidaya wal Nihaya by Ibn Katheer. Tarihçi olarak İbn Kesîr (Master’s thesis).

Central to this era is the Second Fitna, including the tragedy of Karbala in 680 CE, where Husayn ibn Ali was martyred; Ibn Kathir expresses sorrow for the event, condemning the perpetrators while maintaining a balanced view that avoids fueling division, and attributes it to political ambition under Yazid I. The narrative concludes with the Umayyad downfall amid the Abbasid Revolution in 750 CE.^[1][23]Subsequent volumes cover the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258 CE and beyond), highlighting its golden age of intellectual flourishing in Baghdad under caliphs like al-Mansur, Harun al-Rashid, and al-Ma'mun, marked by advancements in science, translation of Greek works, and theological debates.

Ibn Kathir compiles accounts of figures like Abu Bakr's steadfastness, Umar's administrative reforms, and Ali's jurisprudence, portraying them as exemplars whose lives bridged the prophetic era and subsequent history. This selective rigor reflects Ibn Kathir's expertise as a leading hadith scholar, shaped by his training under figures like al-Mizzi and al-Dhahabi.^[20]

Content Structure

Creation and Prophets

In the initial volumes of al-Bidaya wa l-Nihaya, Ibn Kathir commences his historical narrative with the creation of the universe, drawing primarily from Qur'anic verses and authentic hadiths to outline the cosmic origins.

Yarmok, Damascus, Qadsiya, Hamas, Qansirain, Qaisarya, Ajnadin, Jalula, Nehawand, Africa, Andalus, Halwan, Madain, Egypt (Misr). Abul Fido Ibn Kasir. Among such works, al-Bidaya wa’n-Nihaya stands out as one of the most renowned, gaining significance particularly for Ibn Kathir’s consistent and detailed account of the events of his own era.

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