Sarah and Hagar in Ibn 'Asākir's History of Damascus

Author: Lindsay, James E.

Source: Medieval Encounters, Volume 14, Number 1, 2008 , pp. 1-14(14)

Publisher: BRILL

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Abstract:

This article examines how Ibn 'Asākir (1105-76)—in keeping with the well-established fadā' il al-Shām (merits of bilād al-Shām) tradition—fashions portraits of Sarah and Hagar in his Ta'rīkh madīnat Dimashq (History of Damascus) to extol their special role in the sacred history of God working through his human agents in Syria's past. As is the case in his biographies of other sacred and pious figures in Syria's past, Ibn 'Asākir's biographies of Sarah and Hagar are also intended to provide a moral example as well as pious inspiration for the faithful.

Keywords: IBN 'ASĀKIR; SARAH; HAGAR; ABRAHAM; NŪR AL-DĪN; TA'RĪKH MADĪNAT DIMASHQ; ISRĀ'ĪLĪYĀT; QISAS AL-ANBIYĀ'; FADĀ' IL AL-SHĀM

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/138078507X254622

Affiliations: 1: Colorado State University

Publication date: 2008-01-01