Critical edition of Al-Araj Al-Miski Fi T-Tarikh Al-Makki by Ali B Abd Al-Qadir At-Tabari together with an introduction to the work and its author

Abstract

This thesis is concerned with the work of al-Araj al-Miski. fi t-Tärikh al-Makki by 'Ali b. 'Abd al-Qädir at-Tabari. The work is one of the main sources'of Meccan history, in particular during the eleventh century of the Hijra/seventeenth century A. D.

Its author was one of the leading Meccan, scholars, who held a number of religious posts in Mecca, and came from a highly respected family of scholars, 'ulama'.

Part One is an introduction to the work and its author. Chapter One deals with the authenticity of this work and includes a biography of the author and a description of his other works.

Chapter Two is a survey of the writing of Meccan history until the author's time, which gives a brief description of every work, and its place in the writing of the history of Mecca. This helps to give the reader a clear picture of the author's sources, and the place of the present work in Meccan historiography.

Chapter Three is a study about the author as an historian and his contribution to the history of Mecca. In this chapter, the author's theory of history and the historian's qualifications have been discussed, and whether he applies them to himself or not. It also includes a study of the author's plan and his use of his sources, and finally a study of the importance of this work.

Chapter Four is a description of the manuscripts which have been used in editing this work.

Part Two is the Arabic text of the work, together, with the footnotes. The original copy of this work seems to be lost, but three later copies containing the first two-thirds of the work have been consulted. In order to establish the correct reading of the work, the author's sources and the later works which used this work as a source have been consulted as well.

An attempt has been made to define people and geographical places, and some difficult Arabic words, and poetry, with the reference to relevant sources. Special care has been taken to establish the correct reading of some Qur'anic verses and some of the Prophet's traditions, with the reference to the Holy Qur'an and some of the Sihäh traditions.