Dating and Periodization in Islamic Historiography: A Comparative Study of Early Islamic Historical Works up to the 5th Century of the Hijrī
Abstract
Dating and periodization are fundamental frameworks for interpreting historical records. In the case of pre-Islamic Arabs, their use of a complex and variable calendar system significantly influenced the dating and periodization found in early Islamic historical sources. Although the majority of Islamic historiographical works were written after the adoption of the Hijrī calendar, narratives concerning the pre-Hijrah period within these texts still reflect the effects of the earlier variable calendar system. Muslim historians compiled extensive historical records and structured them into periods based on key events in Arabian history, including wars, natural disasters, and significant milestones in the life of the Prophet. This study examines how Muslim historiography integrated external chronological frameworks, particularly those derived from non-Muslim sources, while contextualizing them within the emerging Islamic historical tradition. Focusing on the earliest historical works written by Muslim scholars up to the 5th Century of the Hijrī, the research highlights the interplay between inherited systems of dating and the development of a distinct Islamic historiographical identity.
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