Ibn khaldun, as a Historiographer, Criticizing and Being Influenced by Masoudi

Ibn khaldun’s introduction is undoubtedly replete with profound ideas and innovative andingenious outlooks. Howeve,r the attitudes and insights of those Moslems preceding himhave been given due heed in his analyses because Ibn khaldun’s Mogadammeh(Introduction) relied on facts. As a case in point, Ibn khaldun has praised Masoudi quiteextensively in this Mogadammeh, so far as to refer to his own work. As successive to andhence inspired by Masoudi’s. Nonetheless, the question is why Ibn khaldun has mentionedMasoudi, among other Moslem historians, as his quintessential model, and which ofMasoudi’s intellectual and professional attributes has given rise to his being chosen as amodel by Ibn khaldun. On the other hand, in some other case, Ibn khaldun has severelycriticized and even refuted Masoudi’s orientation. All in all, it might be said that it was thestructure of Morouj-o-al-zahab and praticulaurly Masoudi’s journies and its geographicaldiscussion- which by themselves had formed the foundation of his historical argumentationthatgave rise to Ibn khaldun’s infatuation by Masoudi. Ibn khaldun’s criticism of Masoudi,however, regards those issues that are thought to be beyond his knowledge of ‛omran.’ Apartfrom these two opposing views toward different Masoudi analytical approaches are takentoward the similar issues attended to by both authors. This difference of orientation is owingto the intricate composition of the Mogadammeh and Morouj-o-al-zahab, as well as thecontrast in their attitudes.