Faculty of History (Akhbār)

The works of Fatimi authors such as Syedna al-Qadi al-Nuʿman ^RA and Syedna Idris Imaduddin ^RA form the foundation of historical studies at Aljamea.

These works are supplemented with the works of other authors such as al-Maqrizi, Ibn Muyassir, Ibn Khalliqān and Ibn Khaldūn. Along with classical texts, students engaged with the works of modern and contemporary historians especially in the field of Fatimi and Islamic studies. Furthermore, students at various levels and to different extents explore aspects of South Asian and general world history as well, particularly students appearing for their IGCSE or equivalent board examinations.

A focused and critical study of historiography is undertaken at the higher stages where the development, theories, potentialities and limits of historical scholarship are assessed. The following themes and content areas are covered during the course of study with intensity increasing at higher stages

The Quran as a valuable historical text
Defining principles of historical study
Historiography of Islam
Variations between the perspectives and interpretations of historians
Study and classification of sources
Contributions of Fatimi historians to Islamic history
Heresiographies and their impact

In addition to these themes, each year has specific core topics:

Year	Core Topics
1 & 2	Early Islam Formation of the Islamic world The Indus valley civilisation The history of South Asia and East Africa
3	Classical Islamic history Abbasids, Umayyads, Safavids, Ottomans and Mughals Colonial South Asia and the independence movement
4	Duʿāt Mutlaqūn in Yemen Important Islamic historians
5	Duʿāt Mutlaqūn in India
6	The Fatimi state in North Africa and Egypt
7	Important modern and contemporary historians
8 & 9	Modern and Post-modern history
10 & 11	Historical criticism Orientalism and Occidentalism Critique of historical methodologies Philosophy of history