تاریخ نگاری آخرت گرا و سنت های الهی در آثار تقی الدین احمد مقریزی

Eschatological historiography based on divine traditions mentioned in the Quran is one of the tendencies and types of Islamic historiography. This tendency is seen in the works of some Muslim historians. Among historians inclined to this tendency, Taqi al-Din Ahmad al-Maqrizi, one of the great historians of the 8th and 9th centuries AH, is a prominent figure. Al-Maqrizi is the author of some of the greatest historiographical works in the history of Egypt and the Islamic world. Not only in the introductions to his works, but wherever necessary, between the lines of many of his works and writings, he has mentioned his views and thoughts on the concept and meaning of history, historical methodology, and historical criticism. With this description, this article attempts to answer the main question: What is the meaning and concept of history in Maqrizi's historiographical thought? Based on the findings of the research, Maqrizi has a Quranic, Eschatological, and highly religious attitude towards history, and he wrote his works especially around the "divine traditions" mentioned in the Quran.
Introduction:
The Quran, with its serious attention to the knowledge of history under the two concepts of "Qasas" and "Ayyam", has always been a foundational reference in the tradition of Islamic historiography. In the historiography of almost all major Muslim historians, one can find evidence of the influence of the Quran and Quranic concepts. Meanwhile, some Muslim historians have placed the Quran at the center of their historiography. These historians have repeatedly referred to and cited the Quran in some of their original works, and from this perspective, it can be said that their historiography has acquired a religious and Quranic nature. Abu al-Abbas Taqi al-Din Abu Muhammad Ahmad ibn Ali al-Maqrizi, a prominent historian and author of the eighth and ninth centuries AH in Egypt and the Islamic world, is among these historians. Maqrizi's works and writings can generally be classified into three categories: dynastic historiography, al-Khitat, and socio-economic historiography. In his historiographical works, Maqrizi continued the tradition of Islamic historiography; he perfected al-Khitat and made significant innovations in the field of social and economic historiography. From this perspective, Maqrizi emerges as a prolific and thoughtful historian. This thoughtful historian has undoubtedly reflected deeply on the nature of the subject he studies, namely history. In addition to the introductions to his works, and wherever necessary, throughout many passages of his writings, he has mentioned his views and thoughts on the concept and meaning of history, historical methodology, and historical criticism. These ideas are mainly inspired by a Quranic vision of history and rooted in divine traditions. The result of this vision has been the emergence of a form of eschatological and Sharia-oriented historiography. In this article, we seek to examine and analyze this type of historiography. Considering what has been said, this article attempts to answer the main question: What is the meaning and concept of "history" in Maqrizi's historiographical thought? The main hypothesis of the research is that Maqrizi has a Quranic, Sharia-oriented, eschatological, and highly religious attitude towards history, and he wrote his works especially around the axis of "divine Universal Rules."
Method:
In this article, based on an analytical and descriptive method, first the main works of Maqrizi are examined and reviewed, and by analyzing his views on the concept of history, his thoughts on eschatological and religious historiography are derived.
Results and Discussion:
Al-Maqrizi generally places and defines history in a religious context and is profoundly influenced by the Quranic view of history. For this reason, both from the perspective of historical epistemology and historical methodology, the religious perspective in his works is clear and prominent. He emphasizes that one of the benefits and usefulness of studying history is a better understanding of divine Shariah. In the view of Al-Maqrizi, through history, God's Shariah is known, the traditions of the prophets and their mission are preserved, followers are guided, and God grants them success in worshipping Him. Therefore, from Maqrizi's perspective, the specific function of history is to be understood and comprehended in relation to divine Shariah, and nothing beyond that. In this context, he also considers the ethical aspect of historical knowledge. From the perspective of Maqrizi, the status and honor of the science of history lies in the fact that it contains moral warnings and sermons—sermons that lead humans from this world to the Hereafter. History helps humans become aware of moral virtues so that they can follow and act upon them, and by recognizing reprehensible and undesirable actions, they can distance themselves from them. From this point of view, his historiography can be considered a type of Sharia-oriented and eschatological historiography. It is a purposeful and instructive history that guides humanity to the Hereafter.
Conclusion:
Based on research findings, Maqrizi has a Quranic, Sharia-oriented, eschatological, and highly religious attitude towards history, and he wrote his works especially around the axis of "divine Universal Rules." Without considering the central theme of "divine traditions" in Maqrizi's works, it is difficult to fully understand his historiography.