al-Tarikh al-Kabir li-Ibn Abi Khaythama - Akhbar al-Makkiyin
- Author died
- 279 AH
- Editions
- T al-Watan
al-Tarikh al-Kabir - Akhbar al-Makkiyin (The Great History - Reports of the Meccans) is a section of the extensive biographical and historical compendium composed by the Baghdad-based hadith scholar and historian Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Abi Khaythama (185–279 AH / 801–892 CE) . It documents the reports, narrations, and biographical notices concerning scholars and transmitters associated with Mecca .
Author and Context
The author, Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Abi Khaythama Zuhayr ibn Harb al-Nasa'i al-Baghdadi, studied hadith under scholars including Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Yahya ibn Ma'in, Mansur ibn Salama al-Khuza'i, Muhammad ibn Sabiq, 'Affan ibn Muslim, and Abu Nu'aym al-Fadl ibn Dukayn . He studied genealogical lore ('ilm al-nasab) under Mus'ab ibn 'Abd Allah al-Zubayri, historical lore and battles (ayyam al-nas) under Abu al-Hasan al-Mada'ini, and literature (adab) under Muhammad ibn Sallam al-Jumahi . He composed his large biographical history incorporating these disciplines, which senior contemporaries and pupils transmitted directly from him, including Abu al-Qasim al-Baghawi, Yahya ibn Muhammad ibn Sa'id, Abu Bakr ibn Abi Dawud, and Muhammad ibn Makhlad al-Duri .
Method and Scope
Al-Tarikh al-Kabir was arranged according to the methodology of traditional hadith scholars ('ala tariqat al-muhaddithin) . Rather than restricting entries to a specific grade of transmitters, the work covers both trustworthy (thiqat) and weak (du'afa') narrators . The text integrates narrator evaluations (al-jarh wa al-ta'dil) with chains of transmission, critical questions put to senior authorities such as Yahya ibn Ma'in, historical context, and genealogical notes . The Akhbar al-Makkiyin volume focuses on reports pertaining to Mecca, including local narrators and traditions transmitted through Meccan chains .
Reception and Editions
The parent work received notable praise from early critical scholars; Al-Daraqutni described it as unmatched in its density of scholarly benefits, remarking: "I do not know of any history richer in benefits than his history" .
Surviving parts of the history were preserved across multiple manuscript collections . The Akhbar al-Makkiyin portion was edited by Isma'il Hasan Husayn and published in Riyadh by Dar al-Watan in 1418 AH / 1997 CE . A broader edition of al-Tarikh al-Kabir was later edited by Salah ibn Fathi Hilal and published in Cairo by Dar al-Faruq al-Haditha in 1424 AH / 2004 CE .
Answer updated