SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The Tarikh-i-Bayhaq is one of the few rare and precious works that have survived the awful Mongol invasion. The work, as its name implies, is a history of the famous district of Bayhaq, in Khurasan, completed in the year 563 A.H.- 1167 A.D., by an inhabitant of the district, called Dhahiru'd-Din Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali b. Zayd al-Bayhaqi, who died two years after completing the work. This important work was not paid attention to until quite recent years. The present dissertation is upon the work, and it is divided into three parts. The First deals with the Author; his correct laqab; his birth, and birthplace; details of his education; his marriage to the daughter of the Governor of Ray; his appointment as Ail and Governor; ant his candidature for the ministry under Sultan Sanjari and the author's ancestors, who were honoured by their contemporaries, wasirs and kings. the second part deals with the work, which is the most important existing source of information upon the culture of Bayhaq. This part includes the suggestion that lesidn'llah UUstawfi had the Tdrikh-i-Bayhaq in view when he wrote his Tdrikh-i-Gusida; it also contains the earliest account of 4b01-11141 Bayhaqi, the eminent historian, and his unknown book anatull-Kuttib; a detailed account of the celebrated t4tzfr Nidhitmull-Ailk and his descendants; version literature of the sixth century; and translations of biographical sketches of authors and other eminent men mentioned in the Arfkh-i-Bayhaq. The third part seals with other works of the Author; some eighty books, written in j..rabio and in 4arsian; his existing book the Arikh-l-4ukamAul1-Islfim, which contains the earliest account of 'Umar Khayyam; its reproduction in the Nuzhatull-Arwah by Shahrasuri; its MSS. in different libraries; translations of biobraphioal sketches of eminent Muslim and Christian authors mentioned in it; and some details of his non-existent works.