Ibn Kathir's Critical View of the Events of Islamic Conflicts and Seditions in "Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah": An Analytical Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47134/pssh.v3i1.434Keywords:
Critical Vision, Ibn Kathir, The Beginning and The End, Tribulations, Islamic ConflictsAbstract
Islamic history, since the dawn of Islam, has formed a fertile ground for research and criticism due to the decisive events that have profoundly impacted the collective consciousness of the Muslim ummah. In this context, our study aims to explore the critical methodology followed by Ibn Kathir in "Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya" and examine his stance on the companions and Islamic sects during the civil wars. The research problem revolves around the nature of Ibn Kathir's critical perspective, the criteria he used in criticizing the narratives, and the extent to which his doctrinal views influenced his presentation and analysis of events. Our findings show that Ibn Kathir provided a balanced and objective critical analysis of the fitan (seditions), combining various reports and weighing them scientifically, ensuring fairness in dealing with the events. Ibn Kathir aimed to help the ummah derive lessons from these fitan rather than using them as a means of political or sectarian incitement. Based on these findings, we recommend conducting independent studies on the impact of historical fitan on the unity of the Muslim ummah and how to prevent the recurrence of such divisions in the present day. Researchers and intellectuals should also contribute to the objective and scientific critique of historical heritage, in the same manner as Ibn Kathir did in his treatment of the major fitan
References
Al-Asqalani, Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Hajar [d. 852 AH], Lisan al-Mizan. Dar Ihya’ al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut, 1995 AD.
Al-Asqalani, Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Hajar [d. 852 AH]. Lisan al-Mizan (The Tongue of the Balance). Dar Ihya’ al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut, 1995.
Al-Baghdadi, Abdul Qahir bin Tahir bin Muhammad bin Abdullah [d. 429 AH], The Difference Between Sects and the Explanation of the Saved Sect. Publisher: Dar Al-Afaq Al-Jadida - Beirut, 1977 AD.
Al-Baghdadi, Abdul-Qahir ibn Tahir ibn Muhammad ibn Abdullah [d. 429 AH]. Al-Farq bayn al-Firaq wa Bayan al-Firqa al-Najiya (The Difference Between Sects and Clarification of the Saved Sect). Dar Al-Afaq Al-Jadidah – Beirut, 1977.
Al-Bar‘i, Nijad. Bidayat al-Nihaya (The Beginning of the End). Creativity Center – 3rd Issue, Egyptian General Book Organization, No. 15, Egypt, 2010.
Al-Barai, Najad, The Beginning of the End, Creativity Center - Third Edition, Egyptian General Book Authority, No. 15, Egypt, 2010.
Al-Dhahabi, Shams al-Din Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Uthman ibn Qaymaz (d. 748 AH), The Balance of Moderation in Criticizing Men. Edited by: Ali Muhammad al-Bajawi. Dar al-Ma’rifah for Printing and Publishing, Beirut - Lebanon, 1963 AD.
Al-Dhahabi, Shams al-Din Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Uthman ibn Qaymaz [d. 748 AH]. Mizan al-I‘tidal fi Naqd al-Rijal (The Scale of Moderation in Criticism of Men). Edited by: Ali Muhammad al-Bajawi. Dar al-Ma‘rifah for Printing and Publishing, Beirut – Lebanon, 1963.
Al-Jurjani, Abu Ahmad ibn ‘Adi [d. 365 AH]. Al-Kamil fi Du‘afa’ al-Rijal (The Complete Work on Weak Narrators). Edited by: Adel Ahmad Abdul-Mawjud and Ali Muhammad Muawwad, with contribution by: Abdul-Fattah Abu Sannah. Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut – Lebanon, 1997.
Al-Jurjani, Abu Ahmad ibn Adi [d. 365 AH], Al-Kamil fi Du’afa’ al-Rijal. Edited by: Adel Ahmad Abd al-Mawjud, Ali Muhammad Mu’awwad, edited by: Abd al-Fattah Abu Sinnah. Publisher: Al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, 1997.
Al-Sayyid, Faruq Hassan. Nihayat al-Bidaya (The End of the Beginning). Al-Adab al-Islami, International League of Islamic Literature, Vol. 1, No. 2, Saudi Arabia, 1993.
Al-Shawadfi, Safwat, The Beginning and the End. Monotheism, Ansar al-Sunnah al-Muhammadiya Group, Vol. 24, No. 10, Egypt, 1996.
Al-Shawadfi, Safwat. Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya. Al-Tawhid, Ansar al-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah Society, Vol. 24, No. 10, Egypt, 1996.
Al-Suwaian, Ahmad bin Abdul Rahman, The Beginning of the End. Al-Bayan, Islamic Forum, Vol. 15, No. 153, Britain, Jumada al-Ula 1421 AH, 2000 AD.
Al-Suwayan, Ahmad bin Abdulrahman. Bidayat al-Nihaya (The Beginning of the End). Al-Bayan, Islamic Forum, Vol. 15, No. 153, UK, Jumada I 1421 AH / 2000.
Ibn Kathir, Imad al-Din Abu al-Fida Ismail ibn Umar al-Qurashi al-Dimashqi [d. 774 AH].. The Beginning and the End. Al-Saada Press - Cairo, 1st ed., (1348-1358 AH).
Ibn Kathir, Imad al-Din Abu al-Fida Ismail ibn Umar al-Qurashi al-Dimashqi [d. 774 AH]. Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya (The Beginning and the End). Al-Sa‘adah Press – Cairo, 1st ed., (1348–1358 AH).
Ibrahim, Hassan Ali, The Beginning and the End, Journal of the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo, Arabic Language Academy, Vol. 60, Egypt, May/Ramadan 1407 AH, pp. 245-250.
Ibrahim, Hassan Ali. Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, Journal of the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo, Arabic Language Academy, Vol. 60, Egypt, May / Ramadan 1407 AH, pp. 245–250.
Kanani, Yasin Muhammad. Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya. Al-Wa‘i al-Islami, Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Vol. 61, No. 715, Kuwait, 2025.
Kanani, Yassin Muhammad, The Beginning and the End. Islamic Awareness, Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Vol. 61, No. 715, Kuwait, 2025 AD.
Mahmoud, Munea bin Abdul-Halim. Manahij al-Mufassirin (Methodologies of the Exegetes). Dar Al-Kitab Al-Masri – Cairo, Dar Al-Kitab Al-Lubnani – Beirut, 2000.
Mahmoud, Munee’ bin Abdul Halim, Methods of Interpreters. Dar Al-Kitab Al-Masry - Cairo, Dar Al-Kitab Al-Lubnani - Beirut, 2000 AD.
My friend, Muhammad Yasin Mazhar, Malicious Attacks on Islamic History. Translated by: Dr. Samir Abdel Hamid Ibrahim. Publisher: Dar Al-Sahwa Publishing House, 1988.
Sayed, Farouk Hassan, The End of the Beginning. Islamic Literature, The International Association of Islamic Literature, Vol. 1, No. 2, Saudi Arabia, 1993.
Siddiqi, Muhammad Yasin Mazhar. Al-Hajamat al-Mughredhah ‘ala al-Tarikh al-Islami (Malicious Attacks on Islamic History). Translated by: Dr. Samir Abdul-Hamid Ibrahim. Dar Al-Sahwah Publishing, 1988.
Szymborska, Wisława, The End and the Beginning. Windows, Jeddah Cultural Literary Club, Issue 1, Saudi Arabia, Jumada al-Ula 1418 AH, 1997 AD.
Szymborska, Wislawa. The End and the Beginning. Nawafidh, Jeddah Literary and Cultural Club, No. 1, Saudi Arabia, Jumada I 1418 AH / 1997.
