Complete History

Author's name: Ibn al-Athir

"Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh" is an encyclopedic historical book by the renowned Arab historian Ibn al-Athir (d. 1233 CE). It is considered one of his most prominent and well-known works. The book covers the history of the Islamic and global worlds from the beginning of creation until the author's time in the seventh century AH. The book is distinguished by its comprehensive presentation of historical events and their details, making it an important reference in Arab and Islamic history.

Book structure:
The book consists of eight volumes, and divides world history into several main stages:

Part One: Ibn al-Athir begins with an introduction about the beginning of creation, then discusses the history of the prophets and messengers.

Part Two: Covers the history of the Arabs before Islam and the events of the pre-Islamic era.

Part Three: It deals with the period of the emergence of Islam and the history of the first caliphs.

Parts Four and Five: They discuss the history of the Islamic Caliphate, especially the Abbasid Caliphate.

Parts Six and Seven: These deal with the wars and political and religious developments in the Islamic world from the era of the Abbasid Caliphs to the period of Seljuk and Mamluk rule.

Part Eight: Concludes with details of his era, covering the political and social events that took place in the sixth and seventh centuries AH.

Importance of the book:
Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh is considered a primary reference for historians and researchers in the history of the Middle East and the Islamic world.

The book embodies Ibn al-Athir's profound historical vision and presents a clear picture of the development of Islamic civilization throughout the ages.

It has a precise and comprehensive narrative style that reflects the author's thought and vision of events.