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 at each stage

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

Core Topics

In addition to these areas of study, each year is assigned specific core topics:

Core Topics

years

Early Islam

1&2

Formation of the Islamic world

3

The Indus valley civilisation

3

The history of South Asia and East Africa

3

Core Topics

year

Classical Islamic history

3

Abbasids, Umayyads, Safavids, Ottomans and Mughals

4

Colonial South Asia and the independence movement

4

Core Topics

years

Duʿāt Mutlaqūn in Yemen

4

Important Islamic historians

4

Core Topics

years

Duʿāt Mutlaqūn in India

5

Core Topics

years

The Fatimi state in North Africa and Egypt

6

Core Topics

years

Important modern and contemporary historians

7

Core Topics

years

Modern and Post-modern history

8&9

Core Topics

years

Historical criticism

10&11

Orientalism and Occidentalism

Critique of historical methodologies

Philosophy of history