Sayf ibn Umar al-Usayyidi al-Tamimi (Arabic: سيف بن عمر) was an 8th-century Islamic historian and compiler of reports who lived in Kufa. He wrote the Kitāb al-futūh al-kabīr wa-l-ridda ('The Great book of Conquests and Apostasy Wars'),[1] which was the later historian al-Tabari's (839–923) main source for the Ridda wars and the early Islamic conquests. It also contains important information on the structure of early Muslim armies and government. According to al-Dhahabi, Sayf died during the reign of Harun al-Rashid (786–809).[2]
Little is known about Sayf, except that he lived in Kufa and belonged to the tribe of Banu Tamim.[2]
Reliabilityedit
The reliability of his hadiths has long been contested.[2]
Since he was the sole transmitter of many of his historical narrations, especially pertaining to the conquest of Iraq, some historians have accused him of fabrication or exaggeration, most notably Julius Wellhausen.[3] His narrations are said to be influenced by the tribal traditions of Banu Tamim.[2] However, he also collected accounts that highlight other tribes.[2]
Recent scholarship suggests that Sayf is more reliable than previously thought.[4][5] W. F. Tucker and Ella Landau-Tasseron note that although Sayf may have been an unscrupulous hadith collector, this should not detract from his general reliability as a transmitter of historical information (akhbārī).[5] Tucker adds that accusations of bias could equally be leveled at other akhbārīs contemporary to Sayf, including the Shi'a historian Abu Mikhnaf.[5]Fuat Sezgin, Albrecht Noth, and Martin Hinds have also challenged Wellhausen's views and placed Sayf on an equal footing with other traditionalists.[6]
Notesedit
^Thomas, David. "Kitāb al-futūḥ al-kabīr wa-l-ridda". In Thomas, David; Mallett, Alex (eds.). Christian-Muslim Relations 600 - 1500. Brill.
^History of al-Tabari Vol. 11, The: The Challenge to the Empires A.D. 633-635/A.H. 12-13. SUNY Press. 2015-06-15. p. xvi. ISBN978-0-7914-9684-8.
^Kennedy, Hugh (2010-12-09). The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In. Hachette UK. ISBN978-0-297-86559-9. Medieval and modern historians have suspected that he fabricated some of his accounts, but the most recent scholarship suggests that he is more reliable than previous authors had imagined.
^ abcTucker, William Frederick (2008). Mahdis and millenarians: Shī'ite extremists in early Muslim Iraq. Cambridge University Press. pp. 10–12. ISBN978-0-521-88384-9.
^Landau-Tasseron, Ella (January 1990). "Sayf Ibn 'Umar in Medieval and Modern Scholarship". Der Islam. 67: 1–26. doi:10.1515/islm.1990.67.1.1. ISSN 1613-0928. S2CID 164155720.
Further readingedit
Landau-Tasseron, Ella (January 1990). "Sayf Ibn 'Umar in Medieval and Modern Scholarship". Der Islam. 67: 1–26. doi:10.1515/islm.1990.67.1.1. ISSN 0021-1818. S2CID 164155720.
Linda D. Lau (1978). "Sayf b. 'Umar and the battle of the Camel". Islamic Quarterly. 20–23: 103–10.
This article about a historian is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
sayf, umar, usayyidi, tamimi, arabic, سيف, بن, عمر, century, islamic, historian, compiler, reports, lived, kufa, wrote, kitāb, futūh, kabīr, ridda, great, book, conquests, apostasy, wars, which, later, historian, tabari, main, source, ridda, wars, early, islam. Sayf ibn Umar al Usayyidi al Tamimi Arabic سيف بن عمر was an 8th century Islamic historian and compiler of reports who lived in Kufa He wrote the Kitab al futuh al kabir wa l ridda The Great book of Conquests and Apostasy Wars 1 which was the later historian al Tabari s 839 923 main source for the Ridda wars and the early Islamic conquests It also contains important information on the structure of early Muslim armies and government According to al Dhahabi Sayf died during the reign of Harun al Rashid 786 809 2 Sayf ibn UmarBornUnknown dateKufa IraqDiedc 786 809OccupationHistorianEraEarly Abbasid periodKnown forBeing a source for al Tabari 839 923 Notable workThe Great book of Conquests and Apostasy Wars Kitab al futuh al kabir wa l ridda Contents 1 Life 2 Reliability 3 Notes 4 Further readingLife editLittle is known about Sayf except that he lived in Kufa and belonged to the tribe of Banu Tamim 2 Reliability editThe reliability of his hadiths has long been contested 2 Since he was the sole transmitter of many of his historical narrations especially pertaining to the conquest of Iraq some historians have accused him of fabrication or exaggeration most notably Julius Wellhausen 3 His narrations are said to be influenced by the tribal traditions of Banu Tamim 2 However he also collected accounts that highlight other tribes 2 Recent scholarship suggests that Sayf is more reliable than previously thought 4 5 W F Tucker and Ella Landau Tasseron note that although Sayf may have been an unscrupulous hadith collector this should not detract from his general reliability as a transmitter of historical information akhbari 5 Tucker adds that accusations of bias could equally be leveled at other akhbaris contemporary to Sayf including the Shi a historian Abu Mikhnaf 5 Fuat Sezgin Albrecht Noth and Martin Hinds have also challenged Wellhausen s views and placed Sayf on an equal footing with other traditionalists 6 Notes edit Thomas David Kitab al futuḥ al kabir wa l ridda In Thomas David Mallett Alex eds Christian Muslim Relations 600 1500 Brill a b c d e Donner Fred 1995 Sayf B ʿUmar Encyclopaedia of Islam Vol 9 2nd ed Brill Academic Publishers pp 102 103 ISBN 90 04 10422 4 History of al Tabari Vol 11 The The Challenge to the Empires A D 633 635 A H 12 13 SUNY Press 2015 06 15 p xvi ISBN 978 0 7914 9684 8 Kennedy Hugh 2010 12 09 The Great Arab Conquests How the Spread of Islam Changed the World We Live In Hachette UK ISBN 978 0 297 86559 9 Medieval and modern historians have suspected that he fabricated some of his accounts but the most recent scholarship suggests that he is more reliable than previous authors had imagined a b c Tucker William Frederick 2008 Mahdis and millenarians Shi ite extremists in early Muslim Iraq Cambridge University Press pp 10 12 ISBN 978 0 521 88384 9 Landau Tasseron Ella January 1990 Sayf Ibn Umar in Medieval and Modern Scholarship Der Islam 67 1 26 doi 10 1515 islm 1990 67 1 1 ISSN 1613 0928 S2CID 164155720 Further reading editLandau Tasseron Ella January 1990 Sayf Ibn Umar in Medieval and Modern Scholarship Der Islam 67 1 26 doi 10 1515 islm 1990 67 1 1 ISSN 0021 1818 S2CID 164155720 Linda D Lau 1978 Sayf b Umar and the battle of the Camel Islamic Quarterly 20 23 103 10 nbsp This article about a historian is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This biographical article about a person notable in connection with Islam is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sayf ibn Umar amp oldid 1174865803, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
