The book ʿUyūn al-Tawārīkh (Choice Accounts of History) by Ibn al-Sābīʾ: Valuable insights into the early Seljuq Period

Abstract

Muhammad ibn Hīlāl Ibn al-Sābīʾ was a prominent historian and administrative figure of the Abbasid Period. He authored several works chronicling major events of that era, with his most notable book being ʿUyūn al-Tawārīkh, which is recognised as a vital historical source in Islamic history. Despite the loss of much of its original content, this work provides invaluable insights into key events of the Abbasid Caliphate that are not documented elsewhere. Although considerable portions of the text are missing, its contents have survived through citations in the writings of later historians, particularly from the 7th and 8th centuries Hijri. This study seeks to shed light on the remnants of ʿUyūn al-Tawārīkh by examining later works that referenced it. The investigation encompassed all known sources that specifically cited this work to collect pertinent data. It highlights the book's spatial and temporal context, the sources the author used for data collection, and the key events emphasised in the text. A primary finding of this study is the identification of 42 references to this book in later works, each of which mentions specific events that contribute to our understanding of the early Seljuq Period and the relationship between the Seljuq and Abbasid Caliphates. This analysis represents the first comprehensive census of the remnants of ʿUyūn al-Tawārīkh.