Tabaqat-i Nasiri

Tabaqat-i Nasiri, named for Sultan Nasir-ud-Din, is an elaborate history of the Islamic world written in Persian by Minhaj-i-Siraj Juzjani[1] and completed in 1260.[2] Consisting of 23 volumes and written in a blunt straightforward style, Juzjani devoted many years to the creation of this book even providing references for his information.[3] Although a large portion of the book is devoted to the Ghurids, it also contains a history of the predecessors in Ghazna before the Ghaznavid Sebuktigin took power.[1] In compiling his Tabaqat i Nasiri, Juzjani used other books now lost; part of Baihaqi's reign of Sebuktigin, Abu'l-Qasim Imadi's Ta'rikh-i mujadwal and most likely Ibn Haisam's Qisas-i thani.[1] Juzjani's "tabaqat" initiated the form of writing for dynastic history in later centuries.[2]

Contents

The purpose of the Tabaqat-i Nasiri was to account for the Muslim dynasties that originated in Iran and Central Asia.[2]It starts with the prophets and explains their piety and morality. This continues up to Abdullah, father of the prophet Muhammad, at which point a history of the prophet's life is told.[2] Within his Tabaqat-i Nasiri, Juzjani tells of his religious views and his historiographical approach to Islam and Muslim rulers.[2]

The Tabaqat-i Nasiri is the only source for the Khaljis rebellion in Bengal against the sultan of Delhi from 1229-1230.[2]

Volumes

Volume XI: Is a history of the Ghaznavids from Sabuktigin to Khusrau Malik.[3]
Volume XVII: Gives an historical account of the Ghurids and their rise to power in 1215 to their end with Sultan Alauddin.[3]
Volume XIX: Is a history of the Ghurid sultans Saifuddin Suri to Qutbuddin Aibek.[3]
Volume XX: Is a history of Aibek and the first four rulers of Laknauti until their demise by Iltutmish in 1226.[3]
Volume XXII: Is a biographical volume of courtiers, generals and provincial governors within the sultanate from 1227 until the early history of wazir Balban.[3]
Volume XXIII: Gives indepth information concerning Genghis Khan, his successors up to 1259, and the atrocities committed by the Mongols against Muslim.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 C.E. Bosworth, The Ghaznavids:994-1040, (Edinburgh University Press, 1963), 10-11.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Iqtidar Husain Siddiqi, Indo-Persian Historiography Up To The Thirteenth Century, (Primus Books, 2010), 83.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Jaswant Lal Mehta, Advanced Study In The History Of Medieval India: (1000-1526), Vol.1, (Sterling Publishers, 1986), 8,9.

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