The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History

The author, ‘Abd-ar-Rahmân ibn Muhammad ibn Khaldun al-Hadramî, begins his universal history by praising God in accordance with Muslim literary custom. Ibn Khaldun notes the passing nature of human life and societies, which all depend on the eternal God. He especially praises God for calling forth the Prophet Muhammad, whom Jewish prophets in the Torah and Jesus in the Gospels had foretold (according to Islamic doctrine). Ibn Khaldun prays that God will protect the descendants of Muhammad and not allow unbelief to triumph.

Ibn Khaldun justifies his work by appealing to the widespread popularity of historiography. He distinguishes between “surface” history that merely recounts events and the “inner” meaning of history, which seeks to understand why things happen and the structure of evolving society. This kind of history is an important and difficult branch of philosophy. However, despite admirable efforts by some early Muslim historians, other historians have injected gossip and lies into written history. Later historians, following humanity’s natural tendency to blindly reverence tradition, have uncritically passed on these errors. Moreover, recent historians are guilty of two further sins: not trying to understand how society has changed since early Islam, and being stupendously dull writers.

Ibn Khaldun promises his readers a more engaging history that uses an original and systematic method to deeply understand civilization and how it changes.