Ali ibn al-Athir
Ali ibn al-Athir was a prominent 12th-century Muslim historian, born on May 12, 1160, in Jazirat ibn 'Umar, now in Turkey. An eyewitness to many key events of his time, including the Crusades and the Mongolian invasions, he is best known for his comprehensive historical work, *al-Kamel fi'l-ta'rikh* (A Complete History), which he began in 1203 and continued to update until his death in 1233. As a Sunni Arab or Kurd, ibn al-Athir lived during the Golden Age of Islam and was part of a family notable for its roles in the Zengid dynasty. His writings not only document historical events but also explore their theological implications, reflecting his belief that history carries moral lessons and divine significance. In addition to his major works, he authored a history of the Zengid dynasty and wrote about early Muslim figures. His legacy was honored for centuries until his tomb in Mosul was destroyed by militant extremists in 2014, illustrating the enduring impact of his work and the complex history of the region.
Ali ibn al-Athir
Historian, philosopher, author
- Born: May 12, 1160
- Place of Birth: Jazirat ibn 'Umar, Syria
- Died: 1233
- Place of Death: Mosul, Iraq
Significance: The twelfth century was a time of much turmoil and conflict in the Middle East. Ali ibn al-Athir was an eyewitness to many of the battles of the Crusades. He wrote the most complete history of the era, putting the events of the time in both historical and theological context.
Background
Ali ibn al-Athir was born on May 12, 1160, in what was then the Syrian town of Jazirat ibn 'Umar, which is now in Turkey. He was a Sunni Arab, or Kurd, living in what is known as the Golden Age of Islam (eighth through thirteenth centuries). He had many names because of the Arabic naming system. This system differs from the way names are given in the Western world and includes given names, honorific names, names related to an attribute of Allah (God), a name that indicates their familial relationship ("ibn" means "son of," for instance), and a name that indicates an attribute ("righteous one," for example). These names can change over time, and different names may be used, depending on what the person using the name wants to emphasize.
Ibn al-Athir's family had some prominence as officials of the Zengid dynasty and as traders and landowners. He and three of his brothers each achieved a level of notoriety; older brother Majd al-Din and younger brother Zia al-Din both held official positions as administrators in the dynasty. Majd also was an author, while Zia was a literary critic. Although there is no evidence that ibn al-Athir served in any official capacity, his writing and attention to historical detail was enough for him to surpass his siblings in fame.
While little is known about ibn al-Athir's life, it is believed that he had an income as a result of ownership of a small village given to him by his father. He also enjoyed the patronage of leaders of several other communities, including Badr-al-Din Lo Lo, a sultan (king-like ruler) in Mosul, and Sehab al-Din Togrol, an atabeg of Aleppo. An atabeg is a member of the nobility who is responsible for the upbringing of the crown prince. Ibn al-Athir was educated in his hometown, Mosul, and Baghdad. He spent time in Mosul, Baghdad, Aleppo, and Damascus throughout his life.
In 1181, ibn al-Athir made a pilgrimage to Mecca, completing the religious requirement shared by all Muslims. It appears that his faith was important to him and played a part in how he recorded history. Ibn al-Athir died in Mosul in 1233 and was buried there.
Life's Work
Ibn al-Athir is best known for his detailed and chronological accounts of Islamic history from its origins up to two years before he died. His most famous work is al-Kamel fi'l-ta riko, or A Complete History. To write it, ibn al-Athir relied on a number of sources that have since disappeared from historical records. The first version of this work was completed in 1203. Ibn al-Athir then made a series of updates and additions until nearly the end of his life.
While he relied on the works of others to help with the details of history from before his own time, ibn al-Athir also was able to add firsthand knowledge to his accounts of many of the events of his own time. He traveled with the army of the sultan an-Nasir Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub (1137–1193), also known as Saladin, and personally observed a number of battles between the Kurds, Iranians, Turks, and Arabs when they fought against the Christians in the Third Crusade (1189–1192). He also was witness to part of the Mongolian invasion that drastically changed the Muslim world.
Although his work is viewed as an authoritative work of history, ibn al-Athir also included what is considered to be religious commentary. Ibn al-Athir theorized on how the unfolding events reflected the will of Allah, as Muslims call God. Comments in his own words in his works indicate that he believed that history could impart moral and ethical lessons to help affect the course of future events and the fate of kingdoms.
In addition to The Complete History, ibn al-Athir wrote a history of the Zengid dynasty (sometimes spelled Zangid), of which his family was a part. Written between 1212 and 1218 and republished in the 1960s, the work covers a portion of the same history included in ibn al-Athir's more comprehensive work but in more detail and with a focus on the part played by the dynasty in Syria and Mesopotamia. It is entitled Ta rik al-baher fi'l-dawlat al-Atabakiya, or The Brilliant History of the Atabeg Dynasty.
Ibn al-Athir is known to have written a number of other works; two of these are still in existence. They are al-Lobab fi tahdib al-ansab, which is a revision of an earlier work on nesbas, or Muslim surnames, and Osd al-gaba fi ma refat al-sahaba, or Lions of the Thicket, a work that describes some of the companions of the prophet Muhammad.
Impact
After his death, ibn al-Athir's remains were placed in a shrine in the center of Mosul. Located on a street named for the ancient historian, philosopher, and author, the landmark tomb was revered for centuries. In 2014, militant extremists from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) destroyed the tomb and a nearby park because they viewed the presence of such tombs as a temptation to idolatrous worship.
Bibliography
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Holmes, Oliver. "Militants Destroy Philosopher's Tomb, Poets' Statues in Iraq." Reuters, 20 June 2014, www.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-security-shrines-idUSKBN0EV1JF20140620. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.
"Ibn al-Athir: On The Tatars, 1220-1221 CE." Fordham University, October 2024, origin-rh.web.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1220al-Athir-mongols.asp. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.
Islam, Arshad. "The Mongol Invasions of Central Asia." International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Apr. 2016, www.ijssh.org/vol6/664-C30004.pdf. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.
MacEoin, Denis. "The Destruction of the Middle East." Gatestone Institute, 27 Dec. 2014, www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4973/destruction-middle-east-antiquities. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.
Peacock, A. C. S. Early Seljuq History: A New Interpretation. Routledge, 2013, pp. 41–45.