10. He had gone there with the sole purpose of picking pockets.

In short, one narrative can give birth to hundreds of deductions. Moreover, any one healthy deduction needs support of many other causes. Those supportive causes also have different possibilities. If the historian is not just and he feels himself attracted to any predetermined deduction, he very easily and carelessly overlooks opposing pleas and collects favorable arguments by searching them everywhere. Thus he seeks to mislead others by getting himself misled.

Readers of History As compiling or writing a book of history is an uphill task, to study history and derive full benefits from it is equally difficult. Readers of history should consider the study of the past events as source of taking lesson and warning. They are required to save themselves from The History of Islam the mistakes and evildoings which the people of the past had committed and paid for them, and try to practice virtue by being acquainted with the best consequences of the virtues of the virtuous. To decry or abuse anyone who has already departed from this world is not an act of bravery. However, it is not a matter of shame to express love for the dead and gone and to invoke blessings of Allah for him.

To roam the countries, cities, mountains, forests, show places and bazaars, and to study history books are very similar. The only difference is that the experience a tourist collects through tourism and travels of his whole life, the reader of history can collect more of it by the study of history books for a day or a week. The more a reader of history is victim of uncalled-for fanaticism, the more he will find his study of history barren and unproductive for him. Sources of History The sources of history are generally divided in three types: Solid Evidences: It refers to all written works like books, memoranda, official papers, commands, decisions, documents etc. Repeated Narratives: It means things that are talk of the town; for instance, stories, poems, proverbs etc.

Archaeological Finds: It contains signs and relics, for instance, ruins of the cities, forts, buildings, plaques of buildings, sculpture, ancient weapons, coins, utensils etc. But it is however, not easy to exploit all these three kinds of materials to compile a book of history. These all appear to be meager without intellectual power of high degree, labor, courage, urge and insight. Besides national character, particular habits, rites and customs, background and geographical conditions prove helpful to the historian. Types of History From different respects history may adopt different forms.

Quantitatively speaking, it may be divided into two parts - general Introduction and particular. General history makes mention of the people of the whole world; particular kind of history gi".'es knowledge about one particular nation or country or dynastic rule. Qualitatively spealdng, it is also of two kinds - narrative and critical. Narrative history is one where the statement of the narrator is being enlisted on the basis of his personal observation, and the acceptable and satisfactory narratives have been available to the historian; or the historian would have directly observed the occurrence of the event. Such histories are useful most of all because they need not translating conjectural and imaginary matters into real one.

Such histories rather bring about reforms in conceptual mistakes and rationalistic faults. Critical history is one which is based totally on archaeological finds, reported materials and rationalistic frauds, and any statement of the contemporary historian or narrator regarding the event is not available, like the recently compiled histories of ancient Egypt, Iraq, and Iran. However, thes~ histories are also not without utility. But one cannot be sure of real knowledge. Hist~rical Ages Some of the historians have divided history in three ages: 1) The Earlier Ages 2) The Middle Ages 3) The Modern Ages The Earlier Ages contain.historical account from the beginning of the world to the Roman rule.

The Middle or Medieval Ages comprise the period from the last of Roman rule to the conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul) under Sultan Muhammad Usmani, the second. From some great events are traced the periods of the occurrences of some other events, for instance, such and such events occurred so many years after the birth of Adam, or so many years before or after the Deluge. Similarly, years are counted from the birth of Jesus Christ or Vikarmajeet, or the emigration of Muhammad ;l@; from Makkah to Al-Madinah or from the enthroning of a certain king. Currently, Christian or Hijrah Era is in vogue most of all. The History of Islam Islamic History Among all the nations and religions of the world, from the beginning to the end, Islam alone is such a religion and Muslims alone are a nation which have their history wholly and solely preserved and intact, and no part thereof has ever been doubtful.

The Muslims have never from the days of the Prophet ;ji!, up to the present day, acted with negligence and carelessness in reducing states and events to writing and preserving them for days to come. The Muslims are, therefore, privileged to take pride in the fact that they can at any time, compile the whole history of Islam with the help of contemporary historians and eyewitnesses. Moreover, they can very safely show the similar statements about events with unbroken chain of different authoritative narrators. In short, the Muslims are the only nation which has a complete, exhaustive and authentic history of its own, and no nation of the world can share this peculiarity and distinct feature of this nation. Historians of Islam have practiced as much caution as to take down the event and its nature as it were, without their personal opinion whatever so that the readers are influenced not the least with the views of the historian.

Thus, the readers are at liberty to make their own decisions and form their own opinions in their own way, without toeing the line of thinking adopted by the historian. The greatness and glory of Islamic history exerts deeper impressions on heart when it is noticed that any time or any part of Islamic history can be safely put to the acid test of reasoning and it will pass off without any impurity, flaw and defect. History of Histories Having seen the ruins of Babylon and Nineveh, pillars of Ad and Iram in the desert of Najd, pyramids and mummified idols of Egypt etc., an urge is aroused in man to know about the builders. They have attempted to write about the Babylonian people and have collected immense materials on account of their incomplete critical analysis. However, the lives and works of the founders of pyramids can be penned through the strange letters available.

Introduction Zoroastrian scriptures, Dasatirah Safrang, Bible and the present scriptures, Ramayan of Balmiki Mahabharat are such books which may give some right or wrong information. Idioms, phrases, proverbs, stone weapons, iron tools, ornaments of silver, gold and copper etc., idols of stone, preserved dead bodies of Egypt, pillars of Asoka, Caves of Ellora, idols of Samath and Sanchi, Throne of Rustam, Wall of China etc., put together make interesting materials which may shed light not only on the whole inhabited quarter of earth as brightly as it is required, but however, they can bring to light some of the areas here and there, howsoever dim the historical rays happen to be. True or false stories of the Indians, old plaques of the Egyptians, ancient traditions of Chinese, ruins of the Iranians, writings of the Greek-particularly the book of Herodotus, Israelite traditions, Arabic morals-these are all vital and elementary parts of history. Beginning of History Roman and Greek eras, particularly from the conquests of Alexander, start that part of history which has presented before us the states and conditions of most of the countries of the world that there is far less chances of the chains being snapped in the middle. And it is from here that history is generally considered to take a start.

As the study of histories of Greece, Egypt and Iran fills its readers with joys, they are equally enraged against the Indians, for even in that historical age, India seems to be engulfed in darkness. This utter carelessness of the people living here has always made the historians of the world to shed tears of blood that they always cast fictitious stories in the mould of truth and never allowed truth to take its course. As against the green country India, there is another desert country Arabia, which is contrary to India with respect to authenticity, power of memory, preservation of table of genealogy and narration of events exactly as they occurred. And, hence, even the historical assets of those religions of the Age of Ignorance are reckoned as something valuable. Real Beginning of History Now, the Noble Quran is sent down.

Arabia overcasts the entire world. All the societies appear to be (according to the Quran) " ... scattered The History of Islam floating particles of dust." (25:23) before Arab society. History, in fact, starts from here. Apart from magnificent task of arranging and compiling Ahadith and Asma'-ur-Rijal, thousands of Muslim historians are there who have worked such wonders in this field that one is filled with amazement. There is no branch of society or human living which has been left unnoticed or untouched by the Muslims.

Authenticity of narration is the life and running spirit behind all historical activities. And the Muslims have taken this aspect into consideration in such magnitude that none except the Muslims as a nation may be cited as an example. The Muslims have devoted their supreme abilities in compiling histories even of other nations and countries. It is the Muslim nation alone which has taken the art of writing history to the level of a science, and the name of Ibn Khaldun, the originator of the principles of history, will keep receiving laurels till the end of this world. From the time the Muslims have been overcast by clouds of decline and ill-luck as a nation, and lost much of their promptitude in their endeavors in this field, their pupils, i.e., the European historians have picked up from there to some extent.

History of Sultanate The distinctive feature of man as against other animals is that while the animals have been kept within limits and their required provisions are within their reach without endeavor, humans have been given opportunity to get according to their efforts and struggle. This object may also be described in the manner that man is constantly in a state of travel and is being created to go from lower to higher ranks. Among men one makes more travel or reaches greater heights, looks upon others who are lower or lagging behind, but as he is never to attain perfection, he being higher than others, is also inferior to those above him. He by nature is endowed with the sense of devotion and obedience as has been said: "And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)." (51:56) Thus, the man who is ahead of others is forced by his very nature to obey some power greater than and superior to him. This explains the existence of kingdom and rule.

A king or ruler is only lawfully Introduction perfect, and not in real terms, for real perfection is found in the one who is absolute and not limited, immortal and not mortal, one and not numerous. And that One Self-Existent is Allah the Almighty Who is free from every flaw, defect and evil and is the Possessor of all attributes in their perfection. And thus, He is the real King, real Ruler and real Authority. Since man is obeying by nature, hence, he is to obey and follow others as a part of his very nature. And his real Ruler has prevented him from doing so, as has been said: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad ;i), and those of you who are in authority." (4: 59) Shadow law-enforcing authority or king may be only one who is more perfect than others.

Hence, it is the demand of human nature to keep under sway whoever appears lesser in position, status and rank. But since, man against his nature, has also the capability of moving towards his downfall instead of rising up, it is the logical aspect of mental attitude to develop a desire for something he doesn't deserve. This is the reason why constant conflict is a common spectacle in the world of rules and kingdoms. Enforcing authorities may be kept in two different categories - spiritual and physical, or to say Prophethood and Sultanate. The skills required for materialistic rule have been stated in regard to kingdom of Talut (Goliath) and Dawud (David) ~\ in these words: "And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them: 'Indeed Allah has appointed Talut (Saul) as a king over you'." (2:247) When the people heard of the kingship of Talut, they objected to it and got the reply: "Verily, Allah . has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature." (2:247) It was further said about Dawud ~I: "... and Dawud killed Jalut, and Allah gave him the kingdom and Al-Hikmah (Prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed." (2:251) The History of Islam Now, from the study of histories, it comes to light that whoever got an opportunity to become the center of the support of his people and got superiority over others in respect of learning and physical power, he was at once accepted as their ruler and sultan.

Three thousan_d years ago only physical power, wrestling and bravery added by mental power were considered as essential assets for ruling over others. But when human race gradually developed other qualities, conditions and qualities for kingship were also added. In short, the best and the most valuable person hcis always been a man to rule. And mischief and trial, conflict and disruption, bloodshed and plunder came to surface only when the undeserving got the throne. And you will find no exception to this rule.

Since every man is equal with respect to his nature and rights, hence the acquired qualities and skills alone could lead one to have power and throne, as the Quran says: "And that man can have nothing but what he does." (53:39) Every head of the family who becomes the ruler or king is so because of his fine qualities of head and heart. Every village· headman is the ruler and king of his village. And this is the model of the rule or government of early ages of humankind which is still existing and we cannot pick holes in this system. Nevertheless, if any flaw or defect is to be found out, it is solely on the basis that any undeserving and incapable person in the family has captured power by foul means, or if the headman of the village, or head of the locality happens to be an undeserving person. Personality and Democracy Human face which is, on one hand, the noblest creation of Allah the Almighty, and the served of the entire universe, has in his nature on the other, to treat any exalted and powerful ~eing as the center and an object of worship, and this demand of human nature leads him to the concept of Oneness of God and to worship one God by rejecting all other false gods.

The greatest satanic cunningness and deception was that man put heredity and lineage as precondition for getting throne and forming government. It resulted in undeserving persons not Introduction capable of kingship to become kings and look down upon those who really deserved it. This blunder of mankind gave birth to many evils, corruption and disruption and the children of Adam had to bear the brunt thereof. The Noble Quran after being revealed and Muhammad~ after being commissioned as Prophet, remedied the evil; and this embodiment of the total human qualities, himself led the people of the state and thus put before the world at large best example of the blend of Prophethood and temporal rule at a time. He explained to the human kind the duties of a king and his realm of power.

After him, his foremost trained and benefited band, i.e., the noble Companions ~ elected the best among them to rule over them in line with the teachings of the Prophet ;i. Thus, for the first time, broke the satanic spell that heredity could ever play a role in making one a ruler. The choice of Umar Farooq • after Abu Bakr Siddiq • was governed by the same principle. Although Uthman Ghani • was also chosen without any consideration of heredity and lineage, but some individuals and sections of the people had some reservation about it, and Uthman Ghani • himself did some favor to his relatives and the people of his own tribe. Hence, his period was not without trials and tribulations.

Thus, it may be safely said that as the Prophet Muhammad ~ presented his example as a Messenger for 23 consecutive years to redeem humanity, so also from I to 10 AH, i.e., for about 10 years, he put before the world glaring example of righteous rule. And as the 23 years of the Prophet ~ are worth following for mankind, so the Madnian life of the Prophet ~, the caliphate of Abu Bakr Siddiq and the caliphate of Umar Farooq • put together and spreading over a span of 23 years, are also worthy of being emulated. At the end of the Righteous Caliphate, human weakness and satanic swindling once again made hereditary relations necessary for succeeding to the kingdom or rule. And the rule, instead of going to the able and deserving, was unfortunately came to be considered as the right of some particular dynasties. Thus, the unworthy sons of worthy fathers appeared 'gracing' the thrones or seats of power.

The The History of Islam people of those period had to undergo untold miseries and sufferings to get rid of such evil and despotic rulers. At last, their patience being exhausted, they took recourse to the democracy practiced in France and America etc., today; although like hereditary autocratic rules, democracies also cannot prove a source of blessing for mankind. The only type of government corresponding to human nature and a source of peace and blessing for mankind is one whose model came to be seen in the first four centuries of the Hijrah era. And that is, in fact, the system that lies between democracy and autocracy. Democratic Rule In a democratic setup, a person is elected by the people for a period of three or five years and he is called either the President of the republic or the Head of the democratic government.

But the President of the republic does not enjoy the same powers which is required by an affectionate ruler of mankind. Even in some ordinary matters the President feels helpless and has to work against his will. It means the government has no real center of power, and government affairs are divided in a manner that they go .to belong to all the people of the state. When seen from a distance, this system of government looks pleasant. And since, the people generally find themselves ruling over themselves and feel that the chains of despotism or tyrannical rule are broken, they are happy with the system, but ultimately they are put to great loss as well.

Human sense of nobility lies against unbridled freedom. This is the reason that in France and America etc., where democratic system is working, the spiritualism desired by the religion is going to the dogs. High morals taught by religion cannot grow and flourish in a country where the flood of democracy is surging. Democratic system of government seeks to put man on a path of such an unnatural freedom that he can no longer retain his Divine values. Pure democratic system is, in fact, a very strong movement of atheism and secularism.

As nothing grows in a desert, fish can't live out of water, and man cannot Introduction keep healthy in a dark place and polluted air, in the same way, religious thoughts, restraints and prayers cannot stay and grow in a democratic system of government. The fundamental principle of religion is restraint and obedience. And one's following of a true religion keeps intact the true feeling of human nature that every high and respectable being is to be given a high place and shown respects, and since, Allah the Almighty is the Highest of all, one should bow down before Him saying Subhana Rabbiyal-A 'la (Glorified be the Lord, the Most High). Every Messenger, every Prophet and every guide in the world has rightly demanded that all men should obey him and carry out his command. And none can deny that human race has always achieved success simply by following and obeying those Messengers, Prophets, guides and leaders.

It is a fact that human race has reached the stage of progress and development from the lowest level of disgrace and depravity. Thus, the system of government which is injurious to the righteous course and sets humanity free from all decent and reasonable restraints, can never prove healthy and beneficial to mankind. Every father wants his son to obey him and it also behooves the son to do so. Every teacher wants his pupils to obey him and the same is demanded of disciples, followers and soldiers, and they must respond to the call in their own interest. But, under the effect of democracy every son, pupil, disciple, follower and soldier looks upon obedience to his father, teacher, saint, leader and commander as a matter of an unpleasant duty to be performed against one's will.

And, by and by, all these things are so dissolved that man finds before him nothing but atheism and secularism which ultimately lead to barbarism. Democracy is basically against sense of religiosity, and hence the more this sense is injured, the more there is chance for peace to go out of sight. Real peace can be established on earth only through religion, but governments have always eaten humble pie in this field. Inside houses, in forests, deserts and pathways, a man is free from the watchful eyes of the police. It is religion alone and not the government which can hold one back from indulging in evil acts of murder, theft, adultery etc.

If all the inhabitants of the earth turn The History of Islam secular, it will become a hell for mankind by freely adopting the course of killing and carnage, theft, adultery, lies, deception, mischief and unmannerly behavior. In the democracies of Europe and America, we find nothing which could create a sense of envy in us. These are the countries where more irreligiousness is found. In these very countries, human society is more inclined to immodesty, and it is here that breach of promise, disloyalty, self-centeredness, falsehood, deceit etc., have become ingredients of their character. Democratic government can never give birth to any Napoleon, Kaiser, William, Julius Caesar, Temur, Hannibal, Salahuddin, Sulaiman Qanuni, Sher Shah, Alamgir.

And, in case one is born, he cannot remain alive, what to speak of the birth of Khalid bin Walid. It is, perhaps, the most ugly example of human depravity that we, today, find even Muslims desiring of European and American type of democracy, which is totally against the teachings of Islam and something highly injurious to mankind. Such a shift in Muslim thought is the result of the timidity and lack of courage, and it is reduced to such a state because of ignorance and ignoring the teachings of the Quran and Hadith. Autocratic Hereditary Rule When a person ascends the throne, his blood relation and natural love demand that his son being inheritor of his property and possessions, should also be his successor as a king. But this is his sheer mistake, for kingship is not his property but a trust entrusted to him by his country and nation.

Hence he is not within his rights to put his rule to his disposal and pass it on to anybody at will. A trust is always consigned to its real master. Hence, it is up to the nation to hand it over to any tested and trusted person most suitable to the job. But it requires utmost courage and very strong resolution to hold the king back from committing breach of trust and confidence. Such dauntless courage can be produced by Islam alone which it has done through the ages and what the Prophet~ had implanted into his Companions.

Introduction The Muslims evaded teachings of Islam with the result they lost much of their courage, determination and ambition which Islam had produced in them in the past, and hence, they could not put a check on their rulers. Instead they shut their eyes to the misappropriations of their rulers in every department of life. At last, the ugly practice of forming autocratic hereditary rule which was obliterated during the Righteous Caliphate, was once again brought back to life, and the Muslims as a whole, had to bear the brunt of their agreeing to wrong practice. Hereditary crown princeship's unreasonable and praise-less practice so often paved the way for most of the unworthy and incapable persons to become rulers of the Muslims - persons who were even lacking in the qualities of getting a seat in the assembly of worthy and civilized men. Certainly there should be only one ruler or caliph or king of the Muslims, but he must be the best among them and they elect him with general agreement or majority opinion.

Anybody's birth in the house of a caliph or king doesn't mean that he has necessary abilities to make a worthy ruler. Had this practice of hereditary rule not been permitted, and the Islamic concept of governance and the ruling system had been as well-guarded as it was during the Righteous Caliphate, the Islamic rule and the Muslims would not have reduced to such a sad plight we see today. But it was the Will of Allah and hence it came to pass. Had the Muslims opposed it right from the beginning and not slackened their efforts to keep it intact, then although they had to give supreme sacrifices at the outset, but later, none would have mustered courage enough to get his son elected to the throne or declared him his successor. Abu Bakr ~ had more than one worthy son to make a good ruler but he found Umar ~ best among the Muslims and recommended his name for the next caliph.

Abdullah~ the son of Umar ~ was, undoubtedly, worthy of being the caliph after his father, but since, Omar Farooq ~ was essentially bent upon uprooting this evil practice, issued command that Abdullah bin Umar ~ should, in no case, be elected caliph. The greatest folly and blindness of people is that they see with their naked eyes the evils of autocratic rule but still never take the trouble The History of Islam of going deep into the causes of these evils. By opposing autocracy, they start praising democracy. The main cause behind the evils of autocratic rule is that it had made room for heredity and snatched away from the people the right to elect the ruler of their own choice. Thus, it is the demand of reason that first of all the origin of all evils, i.e., the system of hereditary rule be debarred from making entry to the sphere of human activity.

They should make it a point not to allow at any cost the son of a ruler to succeed if he is not worthy of becoming one. And he should be elected with consensus or majority opinion even if he deserves the throne or seat of power. What sort of wisdom it is to commit another such mistake to avoid one. It is the timidity and. lack of courage on the part of the public that encourage the despotic and unworthy rulers to go unbridled. The obedience shown with a sense of duty is far apart from one which is done out of cowardice.

To make it more clear, we can cite the example of Umar ~ whose governors would say that they felt Umar's one hand below and another about the jaws and he would tear our jaws apart on slight deviation from the prescribed course. Khalid bin Walid ~ receives the order of Umar Farooq ~ and he very silently obeys it in spite of being a commander of great victories. Umar ~ is on the other hand, challenged right on his pulpit and a very common and ordinary person examines his honesty and trusteeship. A woman listens to Umar's speech regarding bridal-money and has the courage to raise objection against a point therein, and the Commander of the Faithful had to admit from his pulpit that even the women of Al-Madinah could inform him of his mistake. Now, one can easily think of the sort of obedience shown to Umar ~, and compare it with the kind of obedience shown.to the last Mogul kings in the courts and in the very country they ruled.

Royal orders were not carried out not only in the Punjab, Sindh, Deccan, Bengal and other provinces, but _also in Agra, Allahabad and Delhi. Autocratic Democratic Rule The type of rule Islam has formed on this earth is known as Autocratic .Democratic Rule. The system of rule suggested by Islam lies between pure democracy and pure autocracy. Every Islamic Introduction section has its say in the election of caliphate, king or ruler. In the election of the most suitable and most deserving person for the rule or caliphate, all possible fair means should be made use of, and the best person to be elected at all costs.

The Muslims need no institution of law or constitution or formation of any modern system of government, for they possess the noble Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet~. Thus the task of electing best man for the job is also not difficult for the Muslims. The man who knows the Quran and Hadith more and acts more upon them is the most deserving of all to become the ruler of the Muslims. To run the administration according to the teachings of the Quran and Hadith and to enforce Divine and Prophetic commands, are the main duties of a Muslim ruler. The Muslims have every right to challenge their rulers if and when he makes even slight deviation from the path set by Allah and His Messenger ~- But it is incumbent on each and every Muslim to follow every order of the ruler, if it is not contrary to the dictates of the Quran and the Sunnah without even thinking to revolt against the ruler.

In case a Muslim ruler shows sign of deviation from the right path, he may be deposed then and there. But if he carries out his duties to his nation with Divine sense and good intentions, his deposition would be the height of idiocy after passing a tenure of three or five years. The caliph of the Muslims happens to be the servant, watchman, guard and trustee of the Muslims; why should then we remove him from a position wherefrom he is serving the Muslims with all the power at his command just for plunging in the trouble of a new experiment. The Muslims do not want their caliph to enact laws for them nor allow him to pass a luxurious life at the cost of public exchequer. The caliph of the Muslims, under a moderate and reasonable system, collects wealth from the wealthy section in reasonable proportion and spends it on the poor, the needy and the orphan for their welfare.

Since, a reasonable tax is collected from the wealthy section to be given to the needy, there is no chance of any conflict arising between the capitalists and the laborers which has, now, taken the whole Europe in its grip. The History of Islam The caliph of the Muslims is the guard and watchman of the Muslims as well as their teacher, guide, commander, servant and king. In important matters and national affairs, for instance, if an enemy country is to be invaded or peace is to be brought about with the hostile power, or troops to be sent to help any people or for protecting the Muslims, or keeping peace in the country, the caliph has to hold consultations with the Muslims for the Quran had ordained him to do so. But the purpose of consultation is not to force the Muslim ruler to toe their line by holding back his own. The sole purpose of such consultation is that the caliph should listen to favorable and unfavorable opinions about the issue and then form his own opinion in the light of wise counsels.

The Quran says: "... and consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah." (3:159) The model of the system of government Islam wants to set up, as mentioned above, may be seen in the era of the Righteous Caliphate. After that, the system of rule changed into autocratic hereditary one. However, the bright points of Islamic teachings and morality kept glaring out the rules established by the Muslims, and taken as a whole, the type of rule set up by the Muslims has no parallel in the annals of history. Democratic governments whose example Europe and America are presenting today, can never come at par with the type of rule Islam wants to establish.

Our Starting Point Muslim historians have generally started their books from Adam ~ while others have done it from the creation of the earth and the heaven. But I shall begin my history of Islam from the last Prophet ;I of Allah, for states of things before him were not beyond doubt, and there was also no particular arrangement of writing history in the world before the Prophet ~- Moreover, it is from him that the beginning of Islamic history is thought of, because it is commonly called that he was the founder of Islam and the people of his Ummah alone are called the followers of Islam, otherwise Islam has made its presence on earth right from Adam ~, the father of man. Introduction Relation between History and Geography Geography is very closely and strongly related to history and hence the histories recently written in conformity with the European historians contain geography. Even the biographers of the Prophet ~ have also included the geography of Arabia to illustrate some points. But since I mean a complete but a brief history of the Muslims, inclusion of geography means writing the geography of the whole world, for the Muslims and their rule belong to the world at large.

But this is most difficult if brevity is to be kept in "iew. Moreover, I have taken advantage of the good opinion about the Muslims that they must be knowing the geography of the entire world along with the maps of the countries. However, it is a part of my plan to include in the book the maps of countries and states wherever they are needed. However, this book will not contain accounts of the Age of Ignorance, Arab nations, the Quraish, practices of Ignorance etc., in great detail. In case of the life history of the Prophet ~, I have largely benefited from Sihah Sittah (the six famous collections of the Prophet's traditions made by Imam al-Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i and lbn Majah) and preferred Ahadith books to the books of history.

I have taken out common materials from the history books Tarikh Tabari, Tarikh Al-Kami/ of lbn Athir, Tarikh Mas'udi, Tarikh Abu I-Fida', Tarik/1 lbn Kha/dun, Tarikh Al-Khulafa' of Suyuti etc., and recorded them in my book. And thus the brief account of the whole history has been recorded in the best possible manner. I have also taken accounts from the books of contemporary historians about Islamic rules established in various cmintries after the decline and downfall of the Abbasid caliphate. I have also quoted here and there passages from Christian historians, but I have quoted these passages just for the sake of getting support and using them as witnesses. I have firm conviction that compared to the Muslim historians, Christians are far less in true historical qualities. Hence, we should never tum towards them for getting facts.