al-Tijan fi Muluk Himyar

al-Tijan fi Muluk Himyar (The Book of Crowns Regarding the Kings of Himyar) is an early Arabic historical work on South Arabian legendary lore, ancient prophets, and the pre-Islamic crowned monarchs of Yemen, compiled by Abd al-Malik ibn Hisham (d. 213 AH / 828 CE; another report gives 218 AH / 834 CE) based primarily on the traditions of Wahb ibn Munabbih (d. 110 AH / 728 CE; also reported as 114 or 116 AH) Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al…+1.

Authorship and Transmission

The core material of the book traces back to Wahb ibn Munabbih, who titled his composition Dhikr al-muluk al-mutawwajah min Himyar wa-akhbarihim wa-qasashim wa-quburihim wa-ash'arihim (Account of the Crowned Kings of Himyar, Their Reports, Stories, Tombs, and Poems) in a single volume Buhuth wa Tahqiqat Abd al…+1. The transmission chain recorded in the work runs from Ibn Hisham through Asad ibn Musa from Abu Idris ibn Sinan from his maternal grandfather Wahb ibn Munabbih Majallat al-Risala.

To Wahb's narratives, Ibn Hisham incorporated supplementary historical traditions and reports from other early authorities, including Muhammad ibn al-Sa'ib al-Kalbi, Abu Mikhnaf Lut ibn Yahya, and Ziyad ibn Abd Allah al-Bakka'i (the transmitter of Ibn Ishaq) al-Mufassal fi Tarikh al-….

Contents and Structure

The work opens with an account of the scriptures revealed to ancient prophets, stating that Wahb had read seventy-three revealed books and detailing scriptures sent to Adam, Seth, Idris, Noah, Abraham, and Moses Majallat al-Risala. It proceeds to trace the origins and genealogies of the ancient South Arabian tribes, beginning with Qahtan, Ya'rub—whom it identifies as the first to speak Arabic—and Himyar, before narrating the succession and campaigns of the legendary monarchs of Yemen al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

The narrative covers prominent rulers and episodes from Yemeni tradition, such as:

• King al-Harith al-Ra'ish, his military conquests, and poetry foretelling future rulers and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Ruh al-Bayan+1.
• The reign of Queen Bilqis and her interactions with the Prophet Solomon al-Tijan fi Muluk Himyar+1.
• The Tubba' ruler Tubban As'ad Abu Karib, his march past Yathrib (Medina), his encounter with two Jewish scholars from Banu Qurayzah, his clothing of the Ka'bah, and the trial by fire that led Himyar to adopt Judaism al-Tijan fi Muluk Himyar+1.

Throughout the work, historical reports are interwoven with numerous poems, speeches, royal epitaphs found on ancient tombs, and biblical-legendary material (Isra'iliyyat) al-Mufassal fi Tarikh al-…+1.

Scholarly Reception and Print History

The book was consulted and cited by several classical historians and biographers. Ibn Khallikan characterized Wahb's original work as among the beneficial books Buhuth wa Tahqiqat Abd al…+1. Abu al-Qasim al-Suhayli referenced Ibn Hisham's version in al-Rawd al-Unuf, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani cited it in al-Isabah, and Ibn Khaldun drew on its accounts in his history Buhuth wa Tahqiqat Abd al…. Ibn al-Dawadari likewise cited Ibn Hisham as the author of al-Tijan when discussing the Tubba' kings Kanz al-Durar wa Jami al-…. Modern scholars and editors note that the compilation reflects early Yemeni folk traditions and dynastic pride mixed with legendary accounts al-Mufassal fi Tarikh al-…+1.

The text was edited by the Orientalist Fritz Krenkow and printed at the Da'irat al-Ma'arif al-Uthmaniyyah press in Hyderabad, Deccan, in 1347 AH (1928 CE), comprising 496 pages and issued together with Akhbar 'Ubayd ibn Sharyah al-Jurhumi Majallat Lughat al-Arab a…+1. Manuscript copies of the text exist in libraries in Berlin, London, Tunis, Istanbul, Damascus, and various Indian collections Buhuth wa Tahqiqat Abd al…+1.