History W4

Who is Imam al-Tabari?

• A Greek historian

• The author of Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk and Tafsir al-Quran

• A military strategist

• A modern historian specializing in governance

What method did Imam al-Tabari use in his historical writings?

• Narrative storytelling without sources

• Quranic text analysis using the chain of isnad without focusing on the soundness of matn

• Chronological arrangement of events only

• Mythological interpretations

What was Ibn Khaldun's most notable work?

• Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk

• Muqaddimah

• The Canon of Medicine

• The Histories

How did Ibn Khaldun define Umran (civilization)?

• A series of battles and wars

• A progressive process achieved through cooperation and striving

• A fixed societal structure

• The result of divine intervention only

What did Ibn Khaldun suggest as the unit of study in civilization?

• Kingdoms

• Dynasties

• Villages

• Individual leaders

What is the significance of 'asabiyyah' in Ibn Khaldun’s theory?

• It is irrelevant to social development.

• It refers to group solidarity that strengthens dynasties and civilizations.

• It represents political corruption.

• It focuses only on individual achievements.

According to Ibn Khaldun, what causes the fall of civilizations?

• Technological stagnation

• Loss of asabiyyah and reliance on material gratification

• Overemphasis on education

• Lack of artistic achievements

What does the term 'Tamaddun' mean in an Islamic context?

• A society's downfall

• Development associated with cities and progress

• Decline of rural areas

• A focus on political systems

What are the components used by Muslim thinkers to judge civilizations?

• Only economic and political success

• Values, morals, happiness, contentment, and knowledge

• Focus on warfare and territorial expansion

• Technological advancements exclusively

What did Ibn Khaldun criticize in the historical writings of his predecessors?

• Their focus on scientific achievements

• Their reliance on fabricated and unauthenticated reports

• Their emphasis on asabiyyah

• Their exclusion of cultural developments