Tayeb El-Hibri is een geleerde wiens werk zich verdiept in de complexiteit van de vroege islamitische geschiedenis, met een focus op de narratieven en interpretaties die het Abbasidische Kalifaat en de Rashidun-kaliefen vormden. Zijn academische benadering combineert rigoureuze historische analyse met een onderzoek naar hoe verhalen en parabels politieke discoursen beïnvloedden. El-Hibri's onderzoek biedt lezers een genuanceerd begrip van de historische en literaire fundamenten van vroege islamitische samenlevingen.
A history of the Abbasid Caliphate from its foundation in 750 and golden age under Harun al-Rashid to the conquest of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258, this study examines the Caliphate as an empire and an institution, and its imprint on the society and culture of classical Islamic civilization.
Tayeb El-Hibri draws on medieval Islamic chronicles to remap the origins of Islamic political and religious orthodoxy, offering an insightful critique of both early and contemporary Islam and the concerns of legitimacy shadowing various rulers. He also highlights the Islamic reinterpretation of biblical traditions.
This work offers a groundbreaking analysis that challenges established views on the reliability of sources from early Islamic history. By reevaluating historical narratives, it invites readers to reconsider long-held beliefs and engage in a deeper discourse about the origins and authenticity of Islamic texts. The book aims to stimulate critical thinking and debate among scholars and enthusiasts of Islamic history.