The Book of Tribulations: The Syrian Muslim Apocalyptic Tradition: An Annotated Translation by Nu'aym b. Hammad al-Marwazi

Nu'aym b. Hammad al-Marwazi; David Cook

Book

The Book of Tribulations

The Syrian Muslim Apocalyptic Tradition: An Annotated Translation by Nu'aym b. Hammad al-Marwazi

Nu'aym b. Hammad al-Marwazi and David Cook

Language: English

Published/Copyright: 2017

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This book is in the series

Edinburgh Studies in Islamic Apocalypticism and Eschatology

About this book

The first annotated translation of the 9th-century Islamic apocalyptic work The Book of Tribulations

The Book of Tribulations is the earliest complete Muslim apocalyptic text to survive, and as such has considerable value as a primary text. It is unique in its importance for Islamic history: focusing upon the central Syrian city of Hims, it gives us a picture of the personalities of the city, the tribal conflicts within, the tensions between the proto-Muslim community and the majority Christian population, and above all details about the wars with the Byzantines. Additionally, Nu`aym gives us a range of both the Umayyad and the Abbasid official propaganda, which was couched in apocalyptic and messianic terms.

Key Features

Includes materials for Islamic military history: internal Muslim wars, the wars against the Byzantines, and the projected warfare of the Mahdi
Presents fascinating social history, detailing earthquakes, plagues and appearances of comets
Alludes to the technological advances of the time: the use of water-wheels, the construction of ships and various methods of transportation
Gives a unique perspective on Syrian Muslim history with an extraordinary level of detail and richness of local perspective

Topics

History Topics in History Jewish History Israel and Palestine

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	x
Introduction Publicly Available Download PDF	xii
Abbreviations and key names and terms Publicly Available Download PDF	xxxix
Caliph/Emperor list Publicly Available Download PDF	xlii
Translation of Nu`aym b. Ḥammād al-Marwazī, Kitāb al-fitan
What was related by the Messenger of God and his Companions after him concerning the Tribulations to come Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	1
Naming of the Tribulations which are to come, and their Number from the death of the Messenger of God until the Rising of the Hour Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	12
The Loss of Intelligence and Absence of People’s Dreams during the Tribulations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	21
Allowance for People’s Desire to Die because of the Prevalence of Trials and Tribulations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	26
The Regret of Some of the Prophet’s Companions and Others with regard to the Tribulation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	30
The Desirability of having Few Possessions and Children during the Tribulations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	39
The Number of the Caliphs after the Messenger of God in this Community Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	40
The Caliphs who were mentioned after the Messenger of God Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	42
Distinguishing the Caliphs from the Kings Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	43
Naming those reigning after the Messenger of God Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	46
The Dominion of the Umayyads and Naming them after `Umar Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	52
The End of the Umayyads’ Dominion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	54
Protection from Tribulations and the Desirability of Holding Back and Withdrawing during them, and Undesirability of Looking out over them Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	61
Those who believed in Withdrawal during Tribulations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	92
The Portents of the end of the Umayyads’ Dominion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	94
Appearance of the `Abbāsids Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	100
The First Portent of the end of the Period of the `Abbāsids Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	110
The First of the Portents of the end of their Dominion will be the Appearance of the Turks after a dissension between them Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	113
Portents in the Heavens concerning the end of `Abbāsids’ Dominion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	117
Beginnings of the Tribulation in Syria Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	124
The Triumph of the Lowliest and Weakest of Peoples Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	128
Refuges from Tribulations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	132
The Center of Islam is in Syria Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	134
The First Portent will be the Portent of the Berbers and the Westerners Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	138
The Appearance of the Berbers and the Westerners Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	140
The Corruption and Fighting of the Berbers in Syria and Egypt, and whoever fights them, and the end of their appearance, and the evil conduct that will happen at their hands Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	142
The Description of the Sufyānī, His Name and Ancestry Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	150
The Beginning of the Appearance of the Sufyānī Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	153
The Three Flags Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	155
The Flags that will disperse in the Lands of Egypt and Syria, and other [countries], and the Sufyānī and his Victory over them Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	155
The Conflict between the `Abbāsids, and the Easterners, and the Sufyānī and the Marwānids in Syria towards Iraq Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	161
The Conflict between the People of Syria, the `Abbāsid rulers at al-Raqqa, and what the Sufyānī will do Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	164
What the Sufyānī will do in the Suburbs of Baghdad and Madinat al-Zawra’ when his Expedition will reach Iraq, and the Destruction that will happen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	171
The Sufyānī and his Army enter Kūfa Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	173
The Mahdi’s Black Banners after the `Abbāsids’ Banners, and what will happen between the Sufyānī’s army and the `Abbāsids Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	174
The Beginning of the End for the Sufyānī, and the Appearance of the Hāshimi from Khurāsān leading the Black Banners, and the Fighting between them until the Horsemen of the Sufyānī reach the East Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	178
The Sufyānī will meet the Black Banners in Battle, and there will be an Apocalyptic Battle between them, in which the People will desire the Mahdi and seek him Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	179
Sending the Troops to Medina and the Killing that will happen in it Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	181
Swallowing up of the Sufyāni’s Troops that he will send to the Mahdi Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	184
The Signs of the Mahdi in his Appearance Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	187
Another Sign at the Time of the Mahdi’s Appearance Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	190
The People’s Gathering Together at Mecca to swear to the Mahdi in it, and the Confusion, Fighting, Seeking the Mahdi that will happen that year in Mecca after the Battle and their Gathering to him Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	192
The Mahdi’s Departure from Mecca to Jerusalem and Syria, after which they will swear to him, and His Traveling towards the Sufyāni and his Supporters Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	197
The Conduct and Justice of the Mahdi and the Plenty of his Time Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	203
The Description of the Mahdi Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	209
The Name of the Mahdi Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	210
The Ancestry of the Mahdi Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	211
The Length of the Mahdi’s Reign Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	214
What will happen after the Mahdi Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	215
The Raid on India Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	237
What will happen in Ḥimṣ during the administration of the Qaḥțānī, and between Quḍā`a and Yaman after the Mahdi Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	238
Al-Ᾱ`māq and the Conquest of Constantinople Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	242
The Imam of the Muslims in Jerusalem and his Victory on the Plain of Acre, and the Conquest of Ḥimṣ Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	280
Concerning the Appearance of the Byzantines in Alexandria, the Edges of Miṣr and its Harbors (mawāhīz) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	315
What will happen to People previous to the Appearance of the Antichrist Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	319
Signs before the Appearance of the Antichrist Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	322
Where will the Antichrist appear? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	327
The Appearance of the Antichrist, his Conduct, and the Corruption at his hands Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	329
The Length of the Antichrist’s Staying Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	345
Jesus son of Mary will kill the Antichrist at the Gate of Lydda at the distance of sixteen Cubits Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	346
Refuges from the Antichrist Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	348
Jesus’ Return and his Conduct Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	350
The Length of Jesus’ Staying after his Return Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	360
The Appearance of Gog and Magog Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	361
Swallowing up by the Earth, Earthquakes, Tremors, and Metempsychosis Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	378
Concerning the Fire that will Gather [People] to Syria Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	388
Among the Portents of the Hour Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	395
The Portents of the Hour after the Rising of the Sun from the West Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	397
The Rising of the Sun from the West Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	406
The Appearance of the Beast (Dābba) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	409
The Ethiopians Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	414
The Emergence of the Ethiopians Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	415
The Turks Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	419
The Times, Months, and Days that are Dated in the Tribulations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	425
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	447
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	458

Publishing information

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

eBook published on:

July 18, 2017

eBook ISBN:

9781474424110

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

Main content:

520

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474424110

eBook ISBN: 9781474424110

Keywords for this book

Islamic Studies

Audience(s) for this book

College/higher education;

The Book of Tribulations

Overview

About this book

The first annotated translation of the 9th-century Islamic apocalyptic work The Book of Tribulations

Key Features

Topics

Table of contents

Bibliographic data