What is history (lecture 1)

 Some philosophers and thinkers wrote about
what they called “poverty of history”. They
claimed that history is an utterly useless
discipline because it can not capture the past
with certitude. Like his French predecessor
Rene Descartes 1596-1650, (in his famous
Discourse of Methods and Meditation) the
German thinker, Goethe 1749-1832, thought of
history as the ‘most absurd of all things’ and
‘web of nonsense for the higher thinking’

THE ‘HIS’ IS MAN.
THEREFORE, HISTORY IS THE
STORY OF MAN’S ACTIVITIES IN
TIME.

WESTERN ORIGIN OF THE ORIGIN
The word ‘history’ is derived
from the Greek word historia
which means “information” or
an enquiry designed to elicit
the truth- (S.K. Kochhar)

Arabic Origin of the Word
Tarikh, the Arabic equivalent of the word
History has its root from ‘arkh’ which
means recording the time of an event.
Tarikh is actually the time when a special
event has occurred. Therefore, history is
the science of recording anecdotes and
their causes, considering the time of their
occurrence.
Ibn Manzur, in Lisanal-Arab

Arabic Origin of the Word
(contd)
 Tarikh as furtherexplains NisarAhmed Faruqi,
means ‘the time’ when a particularevent took
place.
 Qur’anic Origin of the Word History
1. Al-Qassas- meaning the narration
 then there came to him one of the two women, walking
shyly. She said: "Verily, my father calls you that he may
reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us." So when
he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear you
not. You have escaped from the people who are Zalim un
(polytheists, disbelievers, and wrong-doers).“Surah Al-Qasas
(The Naration):25

Qur’anic Origin of the Word
History
 Khabar which means Tidings, items of news,
report.
 Surah Qassas:28.
 ‫ني‬ّ‫إ‬ِ ‫ثوا‬ُ‫ك‬ُ‫م‬ْ ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬ِ ‫ل‬ِ‫ه‬ْ ‫ل‬َِ ‫ل‬َ ‫قا‬َ ‫را‬ً ‫نا‬َ ‫ر‬ِ ‫طو‬ّ ‫ال‬ ‫ب‬ِ ‫ن‬ِ‫جا‬َ ‫من‬ِ ‫س‬َ ‫ن‬َ‫آ‬ ‫ه‬ِ ‫ل‬ِ‫ه‬ْ ‫أ‬َ‫ب‬ِ ‫ر‬َ ‫سا‬َ ‫و‬َ ‫ل‬َ ‫ج‬َ ‫ل‬َْ ‫ا‬ ‫سى‬َ ‫مو‬ُ ‫ى‬‫ض‬َ ‫ق‬َ ‫ما‬ّ ‫ل‬َ‫ف‬َٰ
‫ن‬َ ‫لو‬ُ‫ط‬َ ‫ص‬ْ ‫ت‬َ ‫م‬ْ ‫ك‬ُ‫ل‬ّ‫ع‬َ ‫ل‬َ ‫ر‬ِ ‫نا‬ّ‫ال‬ ‫ن‬َ ‫م‬ّ ‫ة‬ٍ ‫م‬‫و‬َ ‫ذ‬ْ ‫ج‬َ ‫و‬ْ ‫أ‬َ ‫ر‬ٍ ‫م‬ ‫ب‬َ‫خ‬َ ‫ب‬ِ ‫ها‬َ ‫ن‬ْ‫م‬ّ ‫كم‬ُ‫تكي‬ِ‫آ‬ ‫لي‬ّ‫ع‬َ ‫ل‬ّ ‫را‬ً ‫نا‬َ ‫ت‬ُ ‫س‬ْ ‫ن‬َ‫آ‬
 Now when Moses had fulfilled the term, and was travelling with his family,
he perceived a fire in the direction of Mount Tur. He said to his family:
"Tarry ye; I perceive a fire; I hope to bring you from there some
information, or a burning firebrand, that ye may warm yourselves.“
 Surah Muhammad 47:31.
 ‫م‬ْ ‫ك‬ُ ‫ر‬َ ‫با‬َ‫خ‬ْ ‫أ‬َ ‫و‬َ ‫ل‬ُ‫ب‬ْ‫ن‬َ‫و‬َ ‫ن‬َ ‫ري‬ِ ‫ب‬ِ‫صا‬ّ ‫وال‬َ ‫م‬ْ ‫ك‬ُ ‫من‬ِ ‫ن‬َ ‫دي‬ِ‫ه‬ِ ‫جا‬َ ‫م‬ُ ‫ل‬ْ‫ا‬ ‫م‬َ ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬ْ ‫ن‬َ ‫ى‬‫ت‬ّ‫ح‬َ ‫م‬ْ ‫ك‬ُ ‫ن‬ّ‫و‬َ ‫ل‬ُ‫ب‬ْ‫ن‬َ‫ل‬َ‫و‬َٰ
 And We shall try you until We test those among you who
strive their utmost and persevere in patience; and We shall
try your reported (mettle).


QUR’ANIC ORIGIN OF THE WORD
HISTORY
An-Naba' (The Tidings/The Event) ‫النبإ‬
‫ن‬َۚ‫و‬ْ ‫ل‬ُ‫ء‬َ ‫ا‬ۚ ‫س‬َ ‫ت‬َ‫ي‬َ ‫م‬ّ‫ع‬َۚ‌ٓ-
About what do they question one another? Q 78:1
‫م‬ِ‫كي‬ْ‫ظ‬ِ ‫ع‬َ ‫ل‬ْ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ِ‫ب‬َ‫ن‬ّ‫ال‬ ‫ن‬ِ ‫ع‬َۙ
About the great Event. Q78:2

Qur’anic Origin of the Word History
 ‫كن‬ِ ‫ل‬َ‫و‬َ ‫ر ى‬َ ‫ت‬َ‫ف‬ْ ‫ي‬ُ ‫ثا‬ً‫دي‬ِ‫ح‬َ ‫ن‬َ ‫كا‬َ ‫ما‬َ ‫ب‬ِ ‫با‬َ‫ل‬ْ‫ل‬َ ‫ا‬ ‫لي‬ِ‫و‬ْ ‫ل‬ُّ ‫ة‬ٌ ‫ل‬‫ر‬َ ‫ب‬ْ‫ع‬ِ ‫م‬ْ ‫ه‬ِ ‫ص‬ِ ‫ص‬َ ‫ق‬َ ‫في‬ِ ‫ن‬َ ‫كا‬َ ‫د‬ْ ‫ق‬َ‫ل‬َ
‫م‬ٍ ‫م‬ ‫و‬ْ ‫ق‬َ‫ل‬ّ ‫ة‬ً ‫م‬َ ‫ح‬ْ ‫ر‬َ ‫و‬َ ‫د ى‬ً‫ه‬ُ ‫و‬َ ‫ء‬ٍ ‫م‬ ‫ي‬ْ ‫ش‬َ ‫ل‬ّ ‫ك‬ُ ‫ل‬َ ‫صكي‬ِ ‫ف‬ْ ‫ت‬َ‫و‬َ ‫ه‬ِ ‫ي‬ْ‫د‬َ‫ي‬َ ‫ن‬َ ‫كي‬ْ‫ب‬َ ‫ذ ي‬ِ‫ل‬ّ‫ا‬ ‫ق‬َ ‫دي‬ِ‫ص‬ْ ‫ت‬َ
‫ن‬َ ‫نو‬ُ‫م‬ِ ‫ؤ‬ْ ‫ي‬ُ
 There is, in their stories, instruction (ibra) for
men endued with understanding. It is not a tale
invented, but a confirmation of what went
before it,- a detailed exposition of all things, and
a guide and a mercy to any such as believe.
Qur’ n,ā Yusuf : 111.

Qur’anic Origin of the Word History
"‫م‬ْ ” ‫ه‬ِ‫ْم‬ ‫ل‬ِ‫ْم‬‫ب‬ْ ”‫ق‬َ‫ب‬ ‫م ن‬ِ‫ْم‬ ‫ ن‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ذني‬ِ‫ْم‬‫ل‬َّ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ُ ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬َ‫ب‬‫ق‬ِ‫ْم‬‫عقا‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ن‬َ‫ب‬ ‫كقا‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ف‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ي‬ْ ”‫ك‬َ‫ب‬ ‫راوا‬ُ ‫ا‬ ‫ظ‬ُ ‫ا‬ ‫يظن‬َ‫ب‬‫ف‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ض‬ِ‫ْم‬ ‫ر‬ْ ” ‫ل‬ْ ”َ‫ب‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ف ي‬ِ‫ْم‬ ‫راوا‬ُ ‫ا‬ ‫سي‬ِ‫ْم‬ ‫ني‬َ‫ب‬ ‫م‬ْ ” ‫ل‬َ‫ب‬‫ف‬َ‫ب‬‫أ‬َ‫ب‬”
))Al-Hajj: Ayah 46
“Do they not travel through the earth, and see what
was the end of those before them?”
"‫م‬ْ ” ‫ك‬ُ ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬ِ‫ْم‬‫ب‬ْ ”‫ق‬َ‫ب‬ ‫م ن‬ِ‫ْم‬ ‫وا‬ْ ” ‫ل‬َ‫ب‬‫خ‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ ن‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ذني‬ِ‫ْم‬‫ل‬َّ‫ا‬ ‫ ن‬َ‫ب‬ ‫م‬ِّ ‫ل‬ً‫ ا‬ ‫ث‬َ‫ب‬‫م‬َ‫ب‬ ‫او‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ت‬ٍ ‫ظنقا‬َ‫يب‬ِّ‫ب‬َ‫ب‬‫م‬ُّ ‫ت‬ٍ ‫نيقا‬َ‫آب‬ ‫م‬ْ ” ‫ك‬ُ ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ْ ”‫ل‬َ‫ب‬‫إ‬ِ‫ْم‬ ‫ظنقا‬َ‫لب‬ْ ”‫ز‬َ‫ب‬ ‫أزن‬َ‫ب‬ ‫د‬ْ ” ‫ق‬َ‫ب‬‫ل‬َ‫ب‬‫او‬َ‫ب‬
‫ ن‬َ‫ب‬ ‫قي‬ِ‫ْم‬‫ت‬َّ‫م‬ُ ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬ْ ”‫ل‬ِّ ‫ة‬ً‫ ا‬ ‫ظ‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ع‬ِ‫ْم‬ ‫و‬ْ ” ‫م‬َ‫ب‬ ‫او‬َ‫ب‬‫)الظنور‬ "24:(
“We have already sent down to you verses making
things clear, an illustration from (the story of) people
who passed away before you, and an admonition for
those who fear (Allah).”

Different Definitions of History
"History is the witness that testifies to the
passing of time; it illuminates reality,
vitalizes memory, provides guidance in
daily life, and brings us tidings of
antiquity."
Cicero

History is the record of what one age
finds worthy of note in another
Burckhardt
History is an unending dialogue between
the present and the past-
E.H Carr

History, in its broadest sense, is everything
that ever happened...history, in the usual
acceptation of the term means history of
man. The materials to be studied are the
traces left by his existence in the world, the
present ideals, present social customs and
institutions, language,literature,material
productions of human industry, physical
man himself, the physical remains of man,
his thoughts, feelings and actions.
Johnson

"Everything must be recaptured
and relocated in the general
framework of history, so that
despite the difficulties, the
fundamental paradoxes and
contradictions, we may respect
the unity of history which is also
the unity of life."
Fernand Braudel

History is for human self-knowledge.
Knowing yourself means knowing, first,
what it is to be a person; secondly, knowing
what it is to be the kind of person you are;
and thirdly, knowing what it is to be the
person you are and nobody else is.
Knowing yourself means knowing what
you can do; and since nobody knows what
they can do until they try, the only clue to
what man can do is what man has done.
The value of history, then, is that it teaches
us what man has done and thus what man
is.

It is a branch of knowledge
dealing with the chronology of
events-
al-Kafiaji
It is knowledge pertaining to a country,
customs and manners of a people,
remains of the people of yore, as well as
an account of the actions of those alive-
Classical Arabic Historiographers

History is not a simple chronological narration of
the past, but essentially a means to learn from
the past in order to formulate and correct the
present and plan fora betterfuture
The study of history is not an end in itself but a
means and a vehicle to derive al-ibarand to stress
the primacy of religion in life.
Hassan Ahmed Ibrahim

History is a discipline widely cultivated among nations and
races. It is eagerly sought after. The men in the street, the
ordinary people, aspire to know it. Kings and leaders vie for it.
Both the learned and the ignorant are able to understand it.
For on the surface, history is not more than information about
political events, dynasties, and occurrences of the remote past,
elegantly presented and spices with proverbs. It serves to
entertain large, crowded gatherings and brings to us an
understanding of human affairs. It shows how changing
conditions affected human affairs, how certain dynasties came
to occupy an ever wider space in the world, and how they
settled the earth until they heard the call and their time was
up. The inner meaning of history, on the other hand, involves
speculation and an attempt to get at the truth, subtle
explanation of the causes and origins of existing things, and
deep knowledge of the how and why of events. History, is,
firmly rooted in philosophy.
Ibn Khaldun

Arabic Text of the Extract of Ibn
Khaldun’s Statement on History
Arabic Text of the Extract of Ibn
Khaldun’s Statement on History
‫شريف‬ ‫الفوائد‬ ‫جم‬ ،‫المذهب‬ ‫عزيز‬ ‫فن‬ ‫التاريخ‬ ‫فن‬ ‫أن‬ ‫اعلم‬
‫في‬ ‫المم‬ ‫من‬ ‫الماضين‬ ‫أحوال‬ ‫على‬ ‫يوقفنا‬ ‫إذ‬ ،‫الغاية‬
‫دولهم‬ ‫في‬ ‫والملوك‬ ، ‫سيرهم‬ ‫في‬ ‫والنبياء‬ ‫أخلقهم‬
‫في‬ ‫يرومه‬ ‫لمن‬ ‫ذلك‬ ‫في‬ ‫القتداء‬ ‫فائدة‬ ‫تتم‬ ‫حتى‬ ‫وسياسيهم‬
.‫وحسن‬ ،‫متعددة‬ ‫مآخذ‬ ‫إلى‬ ‫محتاج‬ ‫فهو‬ ‫والدنيا‬ ‫الدين‬ ‫أحوال‬
‫المزلت‬ ‫عن‬ ‫به‬ ‫ينكبان‬ ‫و‬ ،‫الحق‬ ‫الى‬ ‫بصاحبهما‬ ‫يقضيان‬ ‫نظر‬
.‫ولم‬ ،‫النقل‬ ‫مجرد‬ ‫على‬ ‫فيها‬ ‫اعتمد‬ ‫إذا‬ ‫الخبار‬ ‫لن‬ ‫والمغالط‬
‫العمران‬ ‫وطبيعة‬ ‫السياسة‬ ‫وقواعد‬ ‫العادة‬ ‫أصول‬ ‫كم‬ّ ‫تح‬
‫منها‬ ‫الغائب‬ ‫قيس‬ ‫ول‬ ،‫النساني‬ ‫الجتماع‬ ‫في‬ ‫والحوال‬
‫من‬ ‫فيها‬ ‫يؤمن‬ ‫لم‬ ‫فربما‬ ،‫بالذاهب‬ ‫والحاضر‬ ،‫بالشاهد‬
.‫ما‬ ‫وكثيرا‬ ‫الصدق‬ ‫جادة‬ ‫عن‬ ‫والحيد‬ ،‫القدم‬ ‫ومزلة‬ ‫العثور‬
‫في‬ ‫المغالط‬ ‫النقل‬ ‫وأئمة‬ ‫والمفسرين‬ ‫للمؤرخين‬ ‫وقع‬
‫أو‬ ‫غثا‬ ‫النقل‬ ‫مجرد‬ ‫على‬ ‫فيها‬ ‫لعتمادهم‬ ،‫والوقائع‬ ‫الحكايات‬
‫ول‬ ‫بأشيائها‬ ‫قاسوها‬ ‫ول‬ ،‫أصولها‬ ‫على‬ ‫يعرضوها‬ ‫لم‬ ،‫سمينا‬
،‫الكائنات‬ ‫طبائع‬ ‫على‬ ‫والوقوف‬ ،‫الحكمة‬ ‫بمعيار‬ ‫سبروها‬
‫الحق‬ ‫عن‬ ‫فضلوا‬ ،‫الخبار‬ ‫في‬ ‫والبصيرة‬ ‫النظر‬ ‫وتحكيم‬
‫العداد‬ ‫إحصاء‬ ‫في‬ ‫سيما‬ ،‫والغلط‬ ‫الوهم‬ ‫بيداء‬ ‫في‬ ‫وتاهوا‬
‫هي‬ ‫إذ‬ ،‫الحكايات‬ ‫في‬ ‫عرضت‬ ‫إذا‬ ،‫والعساكر‬ ‫الموال‬ ‫من‬

Divinity+man+time+space=
History
Western Perspective on History
man+time+space=History

Islamic Perspective on
History

WESTERN PERCEPTION ISLAMIC CONCEPTION
Human beings evolved through
gradual development as stipulated by
Darwin
Human History begins with the
creation of Adam as he was the first
human being on earth
History of human beings started on a
primitive and uncivilized note
History of human beings began with
properguidance and civility
History begins and ends with man as
the ultimate
Man though is the object of history but
not the ultimate
Divinity plays no role in history Divinity, defines and shapes historical
events

map – left – north on bottom
-Mediterranean & Red Sea
History and MythsHistory and Myths
History Myths
Factual representations of
events in the past
Fictions and not factual
Based on evidence Based on imagination or
superstitious beliefs
Historical account can be
validated
Mythological stories cannot be
validated
History is true Myth is fanciful, although may
be derived from events in
history
History teaches moral lesson Teaches moral lesson

Nature of History
History as the study of man
History is majorly concerned with man’s activities in time
History is concerned with man’s activities in space, vis his
interaction with the physical and geographical environment,
as well as the political and socio-economic spheres
History explains the present
History is a dialogue between the events of the past and
progressively emerging future ends

Forms of History
Linear ( History has a beginning and an end.
The implication is that all origin must
have an origin, hence, resulting into
infinite number of origins.
Western view)
 Cyclic ( History does not have not a
beginning or end, history creates
and repeats itself continually, thereby
suggesting that history will repeat
itself from cycles to cycles)
Periodic/Sinusodic( Rise and Fall)

KEYSTONE OBSERVATIONS ON
WESTERN AND CHRISTIAN VIEWS OF
HISTORY
Western interpretation of history is complex and presents several
concepts that are sometimes contradictory and competitive. These
concepts orunderstandings of history may be summarized below.
Absurdity of history. No use whatever in studying history as it fails in its
primary objective; namely to assemble and record the events of the past
accurately and credibly: “The most absurd of all things”. “A web of
nonsense forhigherthinking”
French scholars Renes Descrates (1596 - 1650) in his Discourse of
Methods and Meditation.
The German Goethe (1749-1832)
Carl Popperwho coined the famous saying “Poverty of History”

CHURCH INTERPRETATION OF
HISTORY
CHURCH INTERPRETATION OF
HISTORY
This limited interpretation had dominated during the
“Dark Ages” in Europe when the church had an
absolute control and hegemony. It is claimed that
Human beings collapsed because of Adam’s sin until
Christ came and presented himself in sacrifice of this
sin. Hence, all the life of man and his history should
be directed towards salvation and the hereafter.
The Church maintains that human life is directed
exclusively by God’s plan and that man has no role in
making the events of history.

HISTORY AS PROGRESSHISTORY AS PROGRESS
The earlier two concepts were challenged during the
Renaissance (14-16 centuries). A new school emerged :
“Continuous Progress of History. It dominated the West
since 19th
century onwards. Its major characteristic is the
rejection of any role by religion in directing the course of
history. This was a drastic reaction to the bitter experience
of the Church that rejected the Greeco – Roman legacy. It
claimed that all historical events are made by man and man
alone. Fascinated by the great technological and scientific
achievements of the West, it prophesized the achievement
of “earthy paradise” in this world (no hereafter), and the
inevitable victory of the Western Civilization. -

.
History as progress depends on the material interpretation of
history developed by many scholars, notably Hegel and Marx who
claimed that man is the “product of the means of production,” “A
willess automation”-
The Japanese Francis Fukayama in his The End of History and the Last
Man
Some western intellectuals expressed theirreservation on the Continuous
Progress of History, and argued that Western civilization is heading
towards collapse because of its full dependence on materialism, which may
lead to vices: disintegration of the family and moral laxity, therefore, their
resolve that religion should resume its role in making history (value loaded
society).
This reservation on the concept of Continuous Progress was expressed
by the British historian Arnold Toynbee in his bookA study of Historyand
Edward Carr, the authorof the famous book, What is History(1987), in
which he said, “I do not believe in progress.”
HISTORY AS REGRESSION

Significance of History
‫العتبار‬ ‫أقل‬ ‫ما‬ ‫و‬ ‫العبر‬ ‫أكثر‬ ‫ما‬
 ‘How many are the objects of lessons, but, how few the
takings of lessons’-
 The only lesson that we learn from history is that we don't
learn fromhistory
1. This saying suggests that moral lessons can be
learnt fromhistory.
2. Since history fosters a proper understanding of the
world we are, hence, it prepares us to effectively
participate in the discharge of our obligations .
Therefore, history is essential forgood citizenship

Significance of History
3. History places one in the good stead to make
good decision based on the past that is
known to us, therefore, enabling us to plan
forthe future.
4. History is that which gives us or makes us to
evolve an identity
5. Since history is a warehouse of information
about people and society, hence, it helps in
understanding people and societies

SOURCES OF HISTORICAL WRITING
These are mainly two, namely:
1)Primary sources/evidence. evidences the
record of someone who witnesses the event. It may be
written- newspaper, accounts, diaries, notebooks, minutes,
personages, royal decrees, and constitution; images as it
is with photographs, cartoon, sculptor or artistic works;
documentary works- films; artefacts, tools and oral
testimonies.
2)Secondary sources/evidence
comprises findings of those who worked on primary
sources. Some secondary sources are tertiary ones as
they depend on secondary sources in fleshing their
narrations.

Reliability of Sources
 Sources, primary and secondary, may be in
accurate or tempered with. Eye witness may be
biased or a governmental document deliberately
doctored in order to serve some ulterior
purposes
 To overcome this dilemma, historians uses:
A. Test of consistency (is it self contradicting?)
B. Corroboration or validation by other related
sources. (is the report authenticated by
evidences from other sources)

Ibn Khaldun on Factors which Affect
the Interpretation of Sources
1 Partisanship/Historian biases orprejudices
(Disposition, if, not put undercheck, may affect how
sources are objectively analyzed)
2. Overconfidence on a source as a means of fleshing a
narration
3 Failure to understand what is intended,
4 A mistaken belief in the truth,
5 The inability to place an event in its real context,
6 The desire to gain the favourof those in high rank,
7 Exaggeration
8 Ignorance of the laws governing the transformation of
human society."

Skills Needed in Handling Historical
Sources
 Ability to Assess Evidence: (language,
interpretation of pictures, symbols, artifacts and
etcetera
 Ability to distinguish, and analyze conflicting
sources
 Ability to situate the evidences within the specifics
of their contexts.

What is history (lecture 1)

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Similar to What is history (lecture 1) (20)

More from NaimAlmashoori (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

What is history (lecture 1)