New Publication: Early Islamic Historiography Between Oral Transmission and Written Documentation (The School of Medina as a Model)
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The BA Center for Islamic Civilization Studies has released the second volume in its Studies in Islamic History and Civilization series, titled Early Islamic Historiography Between Oral Transmission and Written Documentation (The School of Medina as a Model), authored by Dr. Yasser Nour, Professor at the Faculty of Education, Mansoura University.
The book explores Medina as the cradle of Islamic religious culture and the intellectual center that brought together the Prophet’s Companions, the Tābiʿūn (Successors), and the eminent jurists who laid the foundations of the Islamic sciences. Focusing on the 1st Century AH, the study examines a formative period during which Medina reached the height of its intellectual and cultural vitality.
Through a comprehensive historical analysis, the book investigates the origins of historical writing in Medina and traces the development of its major historiographical traditions. It examines the diverse genres cultivated by Medinan historians—including Maghāzī (accounts of the Prophet’s military campaigns), genealogy, general history, universal history, and urban history—while shedding light on the scholarly methods they employed in transmitting historical reports, evaluating narratives, and verifying original sources.
This publication offers a valuable contribution to the study of early Islamic historiography and the evolution of historical writing in the Islamic tradition.