The History of al-Ṭabarī, Vol. 14: The Conquest of Iran A.D. 641-643/A.H. 21-23 14

This volume covers the years 21-23/641-43 of the caliphate of 'Umar b. al-Khattab. It can be divided into two distinct and almost equal parts: the first concerning the Muslim conquests in Iran and the east, and the second concerning 'Umar himself, his assassination, and an assessment of the caliph and the man. The volume begins with the caliphal order to the Muslim troops, recently victorious at the famous battle of Nihawand in 21/641, to penetrate farther into infidel lands in the east. The might of the Persian empire had been broken, and a golden opportunity offered itself to the Muslim community to expand its territories. The territorial gains thus achieved are recounted in this volume. Moving out of the garrison towns of al-Kufah and al-Basrah, the Muslim forces' conquests of Isfahan, Hamadhan, al-Rayy, Qumis, Jurjan, Tabaristan, Azerbaijan, Khurasan, parts of Fars province, Kirman, Sijistan and Makran as far as the Indus, are all described in these pages. Contained in these accounts of far-reaching conquests are the peace documents, which are of considerable historical importance. They are typically the documents issued by the victorious Muslim commanders on the ground to the subjugated local inhabitants, laying out in precise terms the obligations of the latter toward their Muslim conquerors in return for safe conduct. Leaving the Muslim forces on the bank of the Indus, Tabari switches his account to Medina, where in 23/643 'Umar b. al-Khattab was assassinated by a Christian slave. After full accounts of this deed, the reader is provided with details of the caliph's genealogy, his physical description, his birth date and age, the names of his children and wives, and the period of time he was a Muslim. A lengthy section follows, in which the deeds of 'Umar are recounted in anecdotal form. There are also quotations from his addresses to his people and some poetic eulogies addressed to him. The volume ends with 'Umar's appointment of the electoral council, five senior figures in the Islamic community, to decide on his successor, and the fascinating and historically greatly important account of the workings of the council with all the cut and thrust of debate and the politicking behind the scenes. Thus was 'Uthman b. 'Affan appointed to succeed 'Umar. This volume covers the years 21-23/641-43 of the caliphate of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb. It can be divided into two distinct and almost equal parts: the first concerning the Muslim conquests in Iran and the east, and the second concerning ʿUmar himself, his assassination, and an assessment of the caliph and the man.The volume begins with the caliphal order to the Muslim troops, recently victorious at the famous battle of Nihawand in 21/641, to penetrate farther into infidel lands in the east. The might of the Persian empire had been broken, and a golden opportunity offered itself to the Muslim community to expand its territories. The territorial gains thus achieved are recounted in this volume. Moving out of the garrison towns of al-Kufah and al-Basrah, the Muslim forces'conquests of Isfahan, Hamadhan, al-Rayy, Qumis, Jurjan, Tabaristan, Azerbaijan, Khurasan, parts of Fars province, Kirman, Sijistan and Makran as far as the Indus, are all described in these pages.Contained in these accounts of far-reaching conquests are the peace documents, which are of considerable historical importance. They are typically the documents issued by the victorious Muslim commanders on the ground to the subjugated local inhabitants, laying out in precise terms the obligations of the latter toward their Muslim conquerors in return for safe conduct.Leaving the Muslim forces on the bank of the Indus, Ṭabarī switches his account to Medina, where in 23/643 ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb was assassinated by a Christian slave. After full accounts of this deed, the reader is provided with details of the caliph's genealogy, his physical description, his birth date and age, the names of his children and wives, and the period of time he was a Muslim. A lengthy section follows, in which the deeds of ʿUmar are recounted in anecdotal form. There are also quotations from his addresses to his people and some poetic eulogies addressed to him.The volume ends with ʿUmar's appointment of the electoral council, five senior figures in the Islamic community, to decide on his successor, and the fascinating and historically greatly important account of the workings of the council with all the cut and thrust of debate and the politicking behind the scenes. Thus was ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān appointed to succeed ʿUmar. v. 1.General introduction and from the creation to the flood. v. 2. Prophets and patriarchs. v. 3. The children of Israel. v. 4. The ancient kingdoms. v. 5. The Sāsānids, the Byzantines, the Lakhmids, and Yemen. v. 6. Muḥammadat Mecca. 7. The foundation of the community. v. 8. The victory of Islam. v. 9. The last years of the Prophet. v. 10. The conquest of Arabia. v. 11. The challenge to the empires. v. 12. The battle of al-Qādisiyyah and the conquest of Syria and Palestine. v. 13. The conquest of ʻIrāq, Southwestern Persia and Egypt, the middle years of ʻUmar's caliphate. v. 14. The conquest of Iran v. 15. The crisis of the early caliphate. v. 16. The community divided v. 18. Between civil wars: the caliphate of Muʻāwiyah. v. 19. The caliphate of Yazīd ibn Muʻāwiyah. v. 20. The collapse of Sufyānid authority and the coming of the Marwānids. v. 22. The Marwānid restoration. v. 23. The zenith of the Marwānid House. v. 24. The empire in transition: The caliphate of Sulaymān, ʻUmar, and Yazīd. v. 25. The end of expansion. v. 26. The waning of the Umayyad caliphate. v. 27. The ʻAbbāsid revolution. v. 28. ʻAbbāsid Authority Affirmed. v. 29. Al-Manṣūr and al-Mahdī. v. 30. The ʻAbbāsid caliphate in Equilibrium. v. 31. The war between brothers. v. 32. The reunification of the ʻAbbāsid caliphate. v. 33. Storm and stress along the northern frontiers of the ʻAbbāsid caliphate. v. 34. Incipent decline. v. 35. The crisis of the ʻAbbāsid caliphate. v. 36. The revolt of the Zanj. v. 37. The ʻAbbāsid recovery. v. 38. The return of the caliphate to Baghdad. v. 39. Biographies of the Prophet's companions and their successors v. 40. Index: Comprising an index of proper names and subjects and an index of Qur'ānic citations and illusions. Translated And Annotated By G. Rex Smith. Translation Of Extracts From: Taʼrīkh Al-rusul Wa-al-mulūk. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [167]-172) And Index.