Biography and Historical and Economical Approach of Ahmed bin-Yusuf Al-Qaramani

Abstract

The process of historical writing is an important and challenging task for anyone who delves into the field. The historian must adhere to the essential qualities of being neutral and objective in conveying historical events, free from any bias, political affiliation, or religious inclination. This is because the study of history is not limited to a single nation but to all nations with various sects and beliefs.

The process of writing in the field of Islamic history is particularly challenging due to the conflicts and disputes that have been raised by early historians. Therefore, we have chosen Ahmed Ibn-Yusuf Al-Qaramani as a case study to examine his biography and his renowned cultural influence as he had close relations with the ruling authorities of his time in Damascus. We also aim to understand the methodology adopted in historical writings during the 10th and 11th centuries of the Islamic calendar, as this period was known for its intellectual and cultural stagnation.

This study aims at investigating the methodology employed by Ahmed Ibn-Yusuf Al-Qaramani and whether he was neutral and objective or if he let his religious and political beliefs affect his work. We focused in examining his narratives on his narrations of the “Twelve Imams” since he comes from an environment that disagrees with their religious perspectives. We will discuss if the historian paid attention to the economic aspects in his work and how did he address them and whether he gave them an essential position in his work.