Try Qaf

al-Abbasi al-Safadi

Died
718 AH
Born in
-

al-Hasan ibn Abd Allah al-Abbasi al-Safadi (d. after 717 AH / 1317 CE) was an Abbasid historian and administrator during the Mamluk period, known for his historical compendium Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mamluk fi Mukhtasar Sirat man Wali Misr min al-Muluk ("The Delight of King and Mamluk in the Abridged History of the Rulers of Egypt") .

Identity and Career

His full name appears in sources as al-Hasan ibn Abi Muhammad Abd Allah al-Hashimi al-Abbasi al-Safadi . In the catalogue of the Khedivial Library, his lineage is recorded as al-Hasan ibn Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Umar al-Abbasi . His nisbas reflect descent from the Banu Hashim and the Abbasid family, as well as an association with the town of Safed in the Levant .

Very few biographical details of his personal life have been preserved outside of the internal notices in his own writings . In his historical chronicle, while recording the events of 694 AH (1295 CE), he explicitly identifies himself in connection with an administrative assignment in Egypt: he notes that the vizier Ibn al-Khalili ordered him to travel to Faqus and its surrounding district to supervise the cultivation of the sultan's private estate lands (aradi al-khas) for that year . Biographical references place his death shortly after 717 AH (1317 CE), while some sources state that he was active prior to 716 AH (1316 CE) .

Scholarly Contributions

Al-Abbasi al-Safadi authored historical and political treatises dealing with governance and the history of Egypt . His primary historical work, Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mamluk fi Mukhtasar Sirat man Wali Misr min al-Muluk, is an abridged chronicle covering the history and virtues of Egypt, spanning from pre-Islamic antiquity, the Pharaohs, and biblical prophets through Islamic history down to 717 AH (1317 CE) .

In addition to this chronicle, he wrote Athar al-Uwal fi Tartib al-Duwal ("Traces of the Ancients on the Order of Dynasties"), a treatise on statecraft and dynastic governance that he commenced on 13 Shawwal 708 AH (1309 CE) . He also composed al-Tadhkira al-Kamiliyya fi al-Siyasa al-Mulukiyya ("The Comprehensive Memorandum on Royal Politics"), which was likely prepared for the Mamluk sultan al-Adil Kitbugha during his reign between 694 and 696 AH (1295–1297 CE) .

Answer updated

List of Works