IBN ATHIR

Who Ibnu Athir? 

NAME = IZZ AD-DĪN ABU AL-HASSAN IBN AL-ATHĪR

TITLE= IBN AL-ATHIR

BIRTH = May 12, 1160, born in Cizre turkey, a town in present-day  in south-eastern Turkey.

DEATH = He died in Mosul Iraq at 1233

Ibn Athīr is the family name of three brothers,

all famous in Arabian literature,

BROTHERS

1.Majd ad-Dīn- The eldest brother, known as Majd ad-Dīn.

2.Diyā' ad-Dīn- The youngest brother, known as Diyā' ad-Dīn

3.Ali ibn al-Athir- The most famous brother was Ali ibn al-Athir.

Better known as Ali 'izz al-Din Ibn al- Athir al-Jazari , from the Ibn Athir family.

Ibn al-Athīr’s older brother, Majd al-Dīn ibn al-Athīr, who worked in Mosul for its ruler and was a scholar of note, made a collection of the sayings and acts of the Prophet Muḥammad and a dictionary of obscure terms in Hadith collections. The youngest brother, Ḍiyāʾ al-Dīn ibn al-Athīr (1163–1239), was a noted author and literary critic who worked for Saladin and became vizier to Saladin’s son, al-Malik al-Afḍal

Biography

Ibn al-Athīr spent a scholarly life in Mosul, but often visited Baghdad. He was for a time with Saladin’s army in Syria and later lived in Aleppo and Damascus. His chief work was a history of the world, al-Kāmil fī al-tārīkh (“The Complete History”), starting with the creation of Adam. Long a standard work, this history has been criticized in the 20th century for being somewhat derivative. He also wrote a history of the atabegs (former Seljuq army officers who founded dynasties) of Mosul called al-Bāhir, which was drawn from his own experience and from that of his father, who held office under the Zangids of Mosul. Among his other works were compilations of biographical and genealogical material of earlier authors.

The Arab historian Ibn al Athir is best known for his most important work, the Kamil at Tawarikh, a huge history of the entire world from a Muslim perspective. His work dealing with the crusaders is among the most valuable of his efforts, as he was an eyewitness to some events [he fought in Saladin's army at the age of [28] and made use sources including Ibn al Qalanisi and Imad al Din for events he did not witness. His tone is different than other Muslim sources, in that it is often less sympathetic to Saladin. This is especially true when his work is compared with the glowing depictions of Saladin found in the work of Imad al Din. He has been considered by some as the chief Muslim historian of the later crusades. 

Ibn al Athir's account of the Third Crusade provides numerous interesting details. For example, he notes that when Saladin approached Jerusalem, they could tell the city was packed full from the crowds on the wall and "the roar" of people erupting from within. This was likely the result of so many Christian refuges from the surrounding area either seeking protection in the city, or seeking to defend it. It is excellent details like this, concerning the Third Crusade,  that makes al Athir's work so useful and readable. 

Although Ibn al Athir is more balanced than many accounts in his depiction of Saladin, the work is marked by the author's obvious bias in favor of the Muslim cause. Ibn al Athir provides numerous examples of negative depictions of the Franks. In seeking to provide a selection of the author's spirited writing style, a brief snippet of his commentary on the Christian ruler of Tyre follows: "In this year, on 13 rabi II, the Frankish Marquis, the ruler of Tyre-- God damn him!-- was killed. He was the greatest devil of all the Franks." 

Dr. Niall Christie notes that Ibn al Athir's account is the third major source for the life of Saladin, but also an excellent account of Muslim-Christian interaction during the crusades. Interestingly, his account also claims that women were among the Christian fighting forces, but this is likely untrue as women and warfare were taboo in the West. No crusader sources makes such a claim and it would have been an effective way for al Athir to shame his enemies. While Christian women almost certainly participated in various aspects of defensive siege warfare, they did not march into battle with the army.

Works

*The Complete History (Arabic: "Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh").
*The Lions of the Forest and the knowledge about the Companions (Arabic: "Usud al-Ghabah fi Ma'rifah al-Sahabah").