The History of al-Tabari: A History of Nations and Kings, 10 Volumes

Author's name: Imam Abu Ja'far al-Tabari

Al-Tabari's "History of the Prophets and Kings" (or "History of Nations and Kings") is one of the most important source books in the field of history. It is considered the most comprehensive historical work among Arab writings. Its author structured it according to a well-defined methodology and presented it in a comprehensive, inductive manner. He includes both authentic and fabricated accounts, relying on the reader's knowledge to distinguish between them. It completed the work of historians who came before him, such as al-Ya'qubi, al-Baladhuri, and al-Waqidi, and paved the way for those who came after him, such as al-Mas'udi, Ibn Miskawayh, Ibn al-Athir, and Ibn Khaldun. It did not limit itself to the history of Islam but also chronicled the period before the Hijra, even beginning with the beginning of creation.