Ibn al-Shihna (749-815 AH / 1348-1412 AD) His resources and methodology in his book Rawd al-Manazir fi 'Ilm al-Awa'il wa'l-Awakhir.

Abstract

The present research studies the resources of Ibn al-Shihna and his approach in his book Rawd al-Manazir fi Ilm al-Awail wa al-Awakhir, which is considered one of the most important books that deal with historical incidents according to the years of their occurrence from the beginning of creation until the year 806 AH / 1403 AD. The research material included his name, Ibn al-Shihna, lineage, birth, upbringing, death, and opinions of the scientists in it, his writings, resources and methodology in his book Rawd Al-Manazir, which is considered one of the valuable historical series of books in the field of Islamic history, as viewing it gives the reader a perception of historical events from the beginning of creation until the ninth century AH / fifteenth century AD.In the research, we have touched on the name and lineage of Ibn al-Shihna and his origin, which is of Turkish origin, and his birth and upbringing were in Aleppo, so he learned from its sheikhs. Also, he traveled to Damascus and Cairo and learned from its sheikhs, so he gained knowledge that enabled him to address fatwas before he was alive and this thing increased his fame, which made the princes entrust him with the task of judiciary, as he took over the judiciary of Aleppo and the judiciary of Damascus, and the scientific status of Ibn al-Shihna made him not specialized in one science, but rather with several sciences, and this is what made him Scientists praise him.As for his resources and methodology in his book Rawd al-Manazir, Ibn al-Shihna was distinguished by the multiplicity of his sources in this book, Some resources are declared by mentioning the name of the author or the name of the book, and sometimes the name of the author and the name of the book together. And other sources that he did not declare and mentioned in the form (the people of history said, some commentators said, his companions said), in addition to what he took from the media of his contemporaries, in addition to that his observations regarding the historical events that he lived through. As for his approach, Ibn al-Shihna followed the annual approach in his mention of historical events.