History of Islam

by Akbar Shah Khan Najeebabadi, Raymond J. Manderola (Editor), Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri (Reviser)

History stands as the most effective and valuable source of putting nation on the course of progress and prosperity and saving them from the path of disgrace and degradation. At a time, when there is tough competition among the nations of the world to excel one another, the Muslim, despite having the most glorious history, appear to be detached and careless as regards their history. This book presents the true Islamic events and their actual causes before the English readers because the other books in the English language found on the Islamic history have been written by such authors and compilers who did no justice in presenting the true picture of Islamic Era but their prejudice prevented them from doing so. Publishers Note We are presenting before you the third volume of the book History of Islam. This book was originally written in the Urdu language in 1922 (1343 AH) by Akbar Shah Khan Najeebabadi. This was the time about 25 years before the partition of Indian Subcontinent into Pakistan and India. For the purpose of brevity, the compiler has presented the authentic events in concise form from the famous histories of Islam written in the Arabic and Persian languages by the great Muslim historians like Tabari, Ibn Athir, Mas'udi, Abul-Fida', Ibn Khaldun and Suyuti, apart from getting benefited from the authentic books of Ahadith for the compilation of the part about the biography of the Prophet Muhammad . So, this compilation is actually the extract of the works of the famous Muslim historians. In the first volume, starting with the introduction of the history as a subject, the country, people and conditions of Arabia prior to the advent of Islam were discussed, and an account of the life of Prophet Muhammad was presented including the hardships and opposition he faced while propagating the message of Islam, and the details of migration and the period after it until his death. After that the description of Rightly Guided Caliphate was also discussed in its full perspective. In this second volume, starting with the Caliphate of Banu Umayyah, the martyrdom of Imam Husain (R) and the Caliphate of the Abbasids, all areas have been covered as far as the expansion of Islam was. This third volume begins with the description of the conditions of Spain before and after the rule of Muslims and the role played by Umayyad, Abbasid, Almoravid and Almohad Caliphs there and their encounters with the Christian Armies. Then some mention of the conquest of Morocco and North Africa has been given along with the details of Idrisia and Aghlabs rule there. After that detailed accounts of Ganghisid Mongols, Turks and Tartar Mangols have been produced. After that Islamic history of Persia is described giving the accounts of Saffariah, Samanid, Delmid, Gharnavid, Seljuk, Ghourid and Muluk Dynasties with the periods of Khwarizm Shah, Atabeks and Sistan Kings rule there. Then the Islamic history of Egypt and Syria is covered describing the Ubaidullah, Ayyubid and Mamluk Dynasties, and the rule of Atabek and Abbasid Caliphs. In the end, something about the Ottoman Dynasty and its Empire is discussed including the description of the conquest of Constantinople. We hope that the readers will find this volume also of great help in the study of Islamic history. The famous scholar Safi-ur-Rahman Mubarakpuri has revised the Urdu edition before its translation to check the authenticity aspect. The translation was done by the Translation Department of Darussalam, and every care has been taken to reproduce the events and the names of the persons and places as accurately as possible. We thank all the persons who have cooperated with us to complete this task and produce it before you into a presentable form. May Allah accept our humble efforts in this regard and send His peace and blessings on our Prophet Muhammad, his Companions and his followers.-Amin! Abdul Malik Mujahid
General Manager, Darussalam

Genres: Islam, History, Religion

1647 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Ahsun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I havent finished all 3 volumes yet, but I really enjoyed what I have read. Having already read many texts on the seerah of the prophet and the khulafa rashidoon, I skimmed through most of the first volume, only stopping to read in depth about sections that i was unfamiliar with. One of my favorite sections is when the author writes about Abdullah ibn Zubair's defense of Makkah from the forces of al-Hajjaj. Written by a muslim, the writing is not dry facts for the academics, but rather captivating highlights of events that have shaped history.

[Rehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really detailed 3 Volume history of Islam. Currently , I am reading second volume and it is an eye opener . Considering how common and "in" it has become to hate Islam ( especially by pseudo-intellectual Muslims) , reading books like this one can remove a lot of misconceptions and let you discover history as it was.

[Waleed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost done with volume one. Very brief work of Islamic history spanning 14 centuries.

It is brief and a closer study requires buying books on a particular topic.

This is a book a Muslims should read. Wish it was 10 volumes like William Durants history of europe.

[Safia Khan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has mixed up views, a good historian tries to write without being biased. This doesn’t do so

[ctwayfarer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a translated work of Akbar Shah Khan Najeebabadi's Urdu book Tareekh-e-Islam that was published in the 1920s, with an added modern revision by Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, acclaimed author of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)'s biography, The Sealed Nectar Biography of Prophet Muhammad. As noble intentioned as it is, the translation isn't great and can be dramatically improved to make it easier and more enjoyable to read and I do hope the publishers strive to achieve this in future editions. History Of Al Tabari: Includes Index, by SUNY Press in comparison is a much superior work of translation and a quick glance at the two reveals what separates a good from a great translated work. It would have also been helpful to have dramatically improved and high quality maps within the book with contributions by qualified cartographers akin to David Nicolle's Historical Atlas of the Islamic World as a lot of the names of old cities and towns do not necessarily register with a modern audience and make the content much more captivating to read.

Nevertheless, the matter in the book, is worthy in its own right and the effort is a valuable contribution in bringing forgotten Muslim history in the words of Muslim historians back to life.

[Hafizuddin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ummayah:

Terkejut dengan beberapa fakta yang menarik yang dikemukakan. Memahami keadaan sebenar isu Karbala dan pemilihan Yazid sebagai Khalifah.

Abbasiyyah:
Mengetahui bagaimana kerjaan Ummyah jatuh, dan bagaimana Abbassiyah memulakan pemerintahanya. Turut diceritakan mengenai bagaimana Abdul Rahman Al Dakhil berhijrah ke Andalus

Masih membaca lagi...:(

[Munirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's great it really gives you an idea of what it was like before Islam came and how it was after. It also shows you what kind of person prohet Muhammad(sws)was during his life.

[Jaouad Yakhlef · Rating 2 out of 5]

The way 'Uthmān ibn 'Affān is being portrayed in this book, is totally unacceptable.

[Toufiq]

good

[Mabon Finch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely awful, in my opinion. I was expecting an unbiased history of a religion, but the bias was apparent from page one. I would recommend The Oxford History of Islam instead.