The Origins of the Islamic State

by Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Baladhuri, Philip K. Hitti (Translator)

This book is one of the most reliable sources on the beginnings of the Islamic Empire. It begins with the wars of the Prophet Muhammad, followed by accounts of the ridda, the conquests of Syria, Armenia, Egypt, and the Maghrib, and lastly, the occupation of Iraq and Persia.

Genres: History, Islam

536 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2002

Reviews

[J. Boo]

Also translated as "Book of the Conquests of Lands", this was written by ninth century historian al-Baladhuri. Or sort of written - the original is lost, but the work exists in condensed form. (The condensed form is still nearly 550 pages long!) Details the initial conquests of the Muslims, from the seizure of Spain in the west to the fall of Persia and the first invasions of India.

Not on Gutenberg, but both "Origins of the Islamic State" and "Book of the Conquests of Lands" translations are available on archive.org.

[Iqra Tasmiae]

https://scroll.in/article/721012/why-...

[Shahid Ansari]

Best book for known Abbasi era

[J.]

I read selections of this book as required reading for a class, it's fascinating because it shows a ground level look at the Muslim conquests, but the book is definitely difficult to read. it has basically no flow because between the Isnad chains and the names that are sometimes so long they require their own internal punctuation it just causes interminable trip ups that constantly broke my concentration. Though, truth be told, a lot of western Christian primary sources suffer from this sort of problem also, Al Tabiri's History (which was written about 100 years after Baladhuri) was far more readable, and also MASSIVELY huge, and thankfully I only had to read parts of volume 7.

[Paul Sutliff]

This is a good multiple version account of the early battles. Sadly because so many vulgarities were deemed normal and acceptable it tells little of Western thought deems as inhumane. There is little mention of the enslavement and slaughters that occurred.