Historical Narratives in Kitāb al-Waraqah by Ibn al-Jarrāḥ (d. 296 AH)

Abstract

There are many studies that have addressed Ibn al-Jarrah's book, "Al-Waraqa," from a linguistic and literary perspective, as it deals with poetry and poets during a specific period in the history of Arabic literature. It sheds light on many poets who were obscure during that historical period, making it an important reference and source. We can consult it to learn the names, lineages, nicknames, and verses of these poets.

In this study, we examined "Al-Waraqa" from a historical perspective, revealing the historical events mentioned by the author, Ibn al-Jarrah. We also explored his methodology in gathering historical information, his sources, and resources.

The research, titled "Historical Narratives in Ibn al-Jarrah's 'Al-Waraqa' (d. 296 AH)," includes the poet's biography, his scholarly standing, his teachers from whom he acquired knowledge, and a mention of his students

And it presented what it contained of historical narratives, despite their scarcity, because it is a book of poetry and poets. The book focused on biographies of poets and their stories. The aim of this research is to explore the historical narratives that appeared in the book and to examine the methodology Ibn al-Jarrah adopted in collecting and documenting these narratives, and the extent of their accuracy and credibility. Poetry books are considered a rich source of historical information because of the facts and events they contain, and what they reveal about the mind, thought, and style of the Arabs and their relations with other nations. We can clarify from poetry some of the reasons for the conflicts and wars that occurred, and poetry's imagery highlights historical data. This is why it became a means of immortalizing news, due to its ease of memorization and the need for its narrators to relate the occasion on which it was said. The historical method is the method used to reconstruct events. It helps in proving historical events scientifically and then rearranging them according to a scientific system.