Miat min Uzama Umat al-Islam Ghayyaru Majra al-Tarikh
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- Dār al-Taqwá lil-Ṭab‘ wal-Nashr wal-Tawzī‘
Miat min Uzama Umat al-Islam Ghayyaru Majra al-Tarikh (One Hundred of the Greats of the Nation of Islam Who Changed the Course of History) is a historical work by Jihad al-Tarbani, published in 1431 AH / 2010 CE, profiling one hundred Muslim figures, collectives, and episodes across history.
Background and Purpose
The book was conceived as a critical response to Michael H. Hart's 1978 book The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History. Tarbani criticized Hart's criteria for failing to distinguish between moral greatness and notoriety by ranking destructive figures such as Genghis Khan and Adolf Hitler alongside religious leaders, as well as claiming that Buddha would have topped the list had he possessed a larger following. Tarbani also argued that widespread Muslim celebrations over Hart placing the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at the head of his list exposed a severe deficiency in Muslims' awareness of their own heritage, as the Prophet's stature does not depend on foreign validation.
In response, Tarbani sought to produce an alternative compilation presenting one hundred Muslim figures—excluding the prophets—to trace the broader narrative of Islamic history and counter what he described as historical distortions introduced by orientalist writers and critics.
Scope and Selection
Tarbani adopted an expansive definition of the "Nation of Islam," encompassing monotheistic believers across human history rather than restricting it solely to followers of Muhammad ﷺ chronologically. Geographically, the biographies span diverse regions across the globe, extending from Japan in the east to Chile in the west, and from Sweden in the north to South Africa in the south.
The selections encompass diverse profiles:
- Men and women, including figures whose contribution was rearing future leaders.
- Collective entities, such as the generation of the Sahaba.
- Unsung or anonymous contributors, such as the fallen soldiers of major battles and uncredited teachers.
- Military commanders, scholars, inventors, poets, monarchs, and enslaved individuals.
Tarbani defined three core characteristics uniting the figures: monotheism in creed, diversity in ethnicity, and loftiness of purpose.
Structure and Methodology
The work was completed over a period of more than a year. Unlike ranked biographical dictionaries, the entries are not arranged in order of virtue or greatness, nor do they follow strict chronological or geographical sequences. Instead, Tarbani structured the entries organically, connecting each biography to the next through thematic and narrative transitions.
The author varied his approach across entries depending on his objective:
- Direct historical narration.
- Defending historical figures whose reputations he considered tarnished, such as Amr ibn al-As and Abu Sufyan ibn Harb.
- Rebutting polemical doubts and misconceptions concerning Islamic history.
The hundredth entry ("The Hundredth Great") is left anonymous as an open call symbolizing the prospective reader or future generation expected to revive the Islamic community.
Publication
The book was completed in Ramadan 1431 AH / August 2010 CE and published in a single volume by Dar al-Taqwa in Cairo. It includes an introduction written by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik al-Zughbi, dated 5 Ramadan 1431 AH.
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