A Short History of the Saracens: Being a Concise Account of the Rise and Decline of the Saracenic Power and of the Economic, Social and Intellectual ... Destruction of Bagdad, and the Expulsion of

by Syed Ameer Ali

Excerpt from A Short History of the Saracens: Being a Concise Account of the Rise and Decline of the Saracenic Power and of the Economic, Social and Intellectual Development of the Arab Nation From the Earliest Times to the Destruction of Bagdad, and the Expulsion of the Moors From Spain

The racial pride which caused the Saracen to look down on conquered nations, his failure to recognise that mere justice never won the affection of subject peoples, that to achieve this something more was needed - the sympathy of a Mamun, the large-heartedness of a Nasir - that neither nations nor individuals lose by generous, courteous, and liberal dealing - the encouragement in later times of intrigue, sycophancy, and unworthiness with such disastrous results to the Arab's power and greatness - may all be ascribed to one cause. History, which comes down to us rich with the spoils of time, had no lesson for him. The Saracen's genius for government was intuitive, inborn, self-taught - not acquired. With an overweening sense of pride in his race and creed, for which allowance can easily be made, he stalked through the world feeling, although not pro claiming, that he was an Arab citizen, a member of a great and powerful commonwealth. There was no critical Schopenhauer to laugh him to scorn. Even the tactless treatment of the barbarian tribesmen of Northern Spain must be ascribed to the same cause. The great Hzijib could weep that the lesson of conciliation came too late.

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Genres: History, Collections

693 pages, Hardcover

First published September 24, 2004

About the author

Syed Ameer Ali Order of the Star of India[3] (1849 – 1928) was an Indian/British Indian jurist hailing from the state of Oudh from where his father moved and settled down at Orissa. He was a prominent political leader, and author of a number of influential books on Muslim history and the modern development of Islam, who is credited for his contributions to the Law of India, particularly Muslim Personal Law, as well as the development of political philosophy for Muslims, during the British Raj. He was a signatory to the 1906 Petition to the Viceroy and was thus a founding-member of the All India Muslim League.

(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Isaac Miftuv]

বেশ নিরপেক্ষ লেখা। ইসলামের ইতিহাস নিয়ে অনেক কন্সেপ্ট ক্লিয়ার হয়েছে।লেখকের স্পিরিট অফ ইসলামটাও পড়তে হবে।
কিছু তথ্য মুঘদ করেছে।যেমন- রাতে মদিনার অবস্থা পর্যবেক্ষণের সময় হযরত উমর রা(:)-এর মাঝে মাঝেই গানের আড্ডাই উপস্থিতি, অ্যাসাসিন/হাসিসিনদের উদ্ভব ইত্যাদি।
বইটা বেশ সুখপাঠ্য,অন্তত ইতিহাস যাদের ভাল্লাগে...

[Qb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book on the subject particularly of medieval ages.

[Ayman Sabir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Syed Ameer Ali really a distinguished man.I knew his amazing role as the justice of kalkata high court but doesn’t have a idea that the writer behind him.When I finished this book book I became more suspicious about his other litarery works, then I found "The spirit of islam" as one of the major book for educated bengali muslims that time.If you ask me about this book its narration was quite good and essential definitions are also attached for understanding.But it can be more interesting.

[Rafiul Ahsan]

Excellent🥰

[Zubair Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written by Syed Ameer Ali, looking forward to completing reading it this year IA ^^

[Saif Ali Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and eloquently written.

[Umar Farooq · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply amazing. The writer acts an expert guide, not missing anything but also not spending too much time on one thing. The writing is a little biased towards Hashimites but I think its justified considering the atrocities committed against them. The depth of research is also amazing.

[Shakir Sharfraz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scholarly work provides a sweeping assessment of saracen civilisation. One of the most unbiased books which tackles both the ups and downs of this civlisation.