Nashwat al-Tarab fi Tarikh Jahiliyat al-Arab
- Author died
- 685 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat al-Aqsa
Nashwat al-Tarab fi Tarikh Jahiliyat al-Arab (The Intoxication of Joy in the History of the Pre-Islamic Arabs) is a historical and genealogical treatise by the Andalusian historian and man of letters Ibn Sa'id al-Maghribi (610–685 AH / 1214–1286 CE) .
Context and Composition
The book constitutes the pre-Islamic genealogical and historical section of a broader historical initiative by Ibn Sa'id . The text's colophon identifies it as the second volume of his comprehensive compilation al-Qadh al-Mu'alla fi al-Tarikh al-Muhalla, designed to be followed by Masabih al-Zalam fi Tarikh al-Islam (Lamps in the Darkness on the History of Islam) .
Contents and Structure
The work is organized systematically by tribal lineages and historical eras of the Arabs before Islam:
- Extinct Arabs (al-Arab al-Ba'idah): The opening section covers the ancient extinct tribes that dispersed across Arabia, Syria, and Egypt after the division of tongues in Babel, detailing legendary traditions such as the legacy of 'Ad and early builder narratives .
- Tribal Genealogies and Histories: Ibn Sa'id surveys various Arabian tribes, including branches of Mudar, Rabi'ah, and Yemen, documenting their lineage lines, ancient territories, migrations, and status down to later periods .
- Biographical and Literary Notices: The tribal surveys incorporate accounts of pre-Islamic poets, chieftains, and historical figures—such as Zuhayr ibn Abi Sulma and Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf—recording their verse, notable exploits, and biographical traditions .
Sources and Method
Ibn Sa'id synthesized material from a broad range of early genealogical, literary, and historical authorities. Among the works and authors he explicitly cites are Ibn Hazm, Kitab al-Aghani by Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani, al-Bayhaqi, al-Rawd al-Unuf by al-Suhayli, and al-Mawardi's al-Nukat . Alongside classical written authorities, he incorporated his own contemporary observations regarding tribal presence and demographics across North Africa and the East during the seventh century AH .
Editions
The book was edited by Nusrat 'Abd al-Rahman and published in two volumes by Maktabat al-Aqsa in Amman in 1982 .
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