فصلنامه تاریخ اسلام
پیاپی 37 (بهار 1388)

Historical thinking and historical analysis have existed since ancient times however, as a coherent philosophical and intellectual discipline with specific presuppositions and a clear methodology it is rooted in modern times.A philosopher of history wants to understand the meaning and objective of hisotry. He wants to know whether the chain of events in the past is a disconnected and aimless group of incidents or whether behind such chains there is an end to be discovered. The question that this article is trying to answer is "whether a jurist possesses the capacity for a historical opinion like others or not". This paper aims to study and analyze the three primary questions and their answers posed by theoretical philosophy of history from the viewpoint of the philosopher – jurist, Mohaghgheghgh-e Sabzevari.

Refering to the principles and conditions of effective communication from the view of communicatios experts, this paper tries to study and analyze the inter–individual relations of an-extraordinary character and great communicator namely the Noble Prophet of Islam(s). Possessing qualities such as friendly disposition, sense of sympathy, protectionist attitude, positive thinking, and equality seeking, the Prophet(s) created a style of communication in which Urgen Haberma's ideal of "Liberating relations" is completaly incorporated. While refraining from unethical principles in trying to be effective in his relations with others, the Prophet(s) displayed most effective skills in how to establish good relations with others; something for which the existence of 1.5 billion Muslims is a good witness.

The connection between history and philosophy, the two disciplines that play an important role in the better knowledge and change of human life, has a major contribution to the science of history and to the adoption of a knowledge – oriented approach towards it. The general pessimism of Greek philosophers towards history caused Muslim philosophers and historians as well not to pay enough attention to philosophy of history and not to delve in the theoretical aspects of hisoty as a serious branch of knowledge.This caused the science of hisotry not to be able to study the relevant issues in a continuous connection between the present and the past, and not to be able to offer a viable solution for the existing needs in a structural approach. Meanwhile, Greek philosophers recognized the importance of hisotry in the better understanding of the present time. Such an approach, although not in line with a knowledge – oriented approach, was very interesting and could stand up to the historical thought of philosophers of critical history in the 20th century and in particular the idealists knowledge – oriented approach. In this paper, the status of history with the Greek philosophers and historians and their structural view of this issue; and the general negligence of Aristotelian Muslim philosophers, and especially Farabi and Ibn Sina, of historical knowledge, their lack of attention towards this science in scientific divisions plus the absence of a structural view towards history on their part have been studied.

This research has been conducted with the objective of the discovery and introduction of researches done on "Ashura" and "Those who have studied Ashura" in the West in the last 100 years.At first, this paper refers to the trend of Islamic and Shii studies in this period. Then, a number of prominent Western researchers on this subject matter and researches carried out in this area have been introduced. Next, dissertations and conferences concerned with the topic of Ashura in the West have been taken up. To acquire knowledge about the peculiarities of Western research about Ashura and the difference between the scientific and media – oriented approaches in this regard are other issues discussed by this paper.

At the onset of the establishment of Umayyad government a number of prominent politicians and statesmen were instrumental in strengthening the pillars of this newly-established government. One such porson was Zahhak Ibn Gheis Fahri who during the rule of Yazid ibn Abi-Sufyan in Greater Syria had gone to the region and been employed by Umayyad rulers.Zahhak's name has not been registered in historical texts during the rule of the first three Caliphs except in a namber of Muslim conquests. However, during the caliphate of Imam Ali (A) his prominent role in the promotion of the Umayyad government is highlighted for the first time. In this period, Zahhak was one of Muawiyah's commanders in the Battle of Seffin. He also played a major role in raids launched by Ummayyad forces in western Iraq.When Yazid Ibn Muawiyah ascended the throne, Zahhak's role in the Ummayyad government became even more prominent such that it can be said that during Yazid's rule he was the strongest and greated statesman of the period in the Ummayyad establishment. It was during this same period that Zahhak developed an inclination for Abdollah Ibn Zubayr who had organized a rebellion in Mecca.After the Umayyads agreed on Marwan Hakam as the new ruler in the "Jabiyah Council", they decided to take on Zahhak who enjoyed support from Ibn Zubayr. The two armies met at "Marj Rahit" and Zahhak was badly defeated and eventually killed.

To find out about the truth of an incident is a major topic of "Knowledge" on which there have been different opinions so far. Although it seems difficult to find out the real truth about a historical event, by applying criterions called "internal and external critique of the relator and the relation" in history, it is possible to reduce the level of error and reach the fact of the matter in a more certain way. In their writing of history, historians have largely recorded historical events using specific criterions that shape their historiographical style.The primary question of this paper is: "what are the main elements of historiography in the viewpoint of Ibn Kathir of Demascus in his Al-Bidaya wa An-Nihayeh?" Based on Laclau and Mouffe and Ferklaf's theory of critical discourse analysis, the hypothesis of this article is that the Quran, the Prophet's Tradition, and the intellect with an emphasis on the Shafiite school of law are the main elements shaping Ibn Kathier's historiographical methodology. While proving the hypothesis, the writer through a critical approach analyzes the percentage of Ibn Kathir's deviation from his own principles in "the Tradition of the Twelve Imams".

The aim of this paper is to study three aspects of the Egyptian historiography movement in the 19th century. At frst, the continuous stages of this movement will be followed up and its different approaches are pointed out. Then, a clear picture of the various topics that interested the Egyptian historians in this century will be presented as well as the cultural background that influenced their research method. Finally, the goals of this movement and its effects on the Egyptian society are dealt with.