Skip to content
Register Sign in Wishlist

Classical Arabic Biography
The Heirs of the Prophets in the Age of al-Ma'mun

$42.99 (C)

Part of Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization

  • Date Published: October 2008
  • availability: Available
  • format: Paperback
  • isbn: 9780521088541

$ 42.99 (C)
Paperback

Add to cart Add to wishlist

Other available formats:
Hardback, eBook


Looking for an examination copy?

This title is not currently available for examination. However, if you are interested in the title for your course we can consider offering an examination copy. To register your interest please contact collegesales@cambridge.org providing details of the course you are teaching.

Description
Product filter button
Description
Contents
Resources
Courses
About the Authors
  • Premodern Arabic biography has served as a major source for the history of Islamic civilization. In the first book-length study to explore the origins and development of classical Arabic biography, Michael Cooperson demonstrates how Muslim scholars used the notions of heirship and transmission to document the activities of political, scholarly and religious communities. The author also explains how medieval Arab scholars used biography to reconstruct the life stories of important historical figures. He then examines the careers of four of these figures, analyzing their relationships and their place in later biography.

    • A book-length study dealing with classical Arabic biography
    • Interdisciplinary treatment of formative period of Islamic thought
    • Scholar well regarded in the field
    Read more

    Reviews & endorsements

    "A splendid book..." Journal of the American Oriental Society

    "Cooperson's glossary is quite useful, as is the extensive and well-focused bibliography." Journal of the American Academy of Religion.

    "This richly documented and thorough study reflects a linguistic competence in Arabic and depth of reading that have become increasingly rare with the decline of area study specialties over the past two decades. The author succeeds in revisiting well-known sources and in bringing to light hitherto ignored anecdotes about these figures. Great effort is made to reach to the general reader, with a full glossary at the outset of the book, translation and explanation of Arabic and Islamic in the course of each chapter, and a very-friendly introduction about the fundamentals of early Islamic historical narration...stimulating." Biography Dec 2001

    "This study sheds important light on the origins and development of classical Arabic biography." Religious Studies Review

    "Outstanding..." American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences

    See more reviews

    Customer reviews

    Not yet reviewed

    Be the first to review

    Review was not posted due to profanity

    ×

    , create a review

    (If you're not , sign out)

    Please enter the right captcha value
    Please enter a star rating.
    Your review must be a minimum of 12 words.

    How do you rate this item?

    ×

    Product details

    • Date Published: October 2008
    • format: Paperback
    • isbn: 9780521088541
    • length: 244 pages
    • dimensions: 229 x 152 x 14 mm
    • weight: 0.36kg
    • availability: Available
  • Table of Contents

    Preface
    Acknowledgements
    List of abbreviations
    Note on transliteration
    Note on dating systems
    Glossary
    1. The development of the genre
    2. The caliph al-Ma'mun
    3. The Imam 'Ali al'Rida
    4. The Hadith-scholar Ahmad Ibn Hanbal
    5. The renunciant Bishr al-Hafi
    Conclusions
    Appendix: the circumstances of 'Ali al-Rida's death
    Bibliography
    Index.

  • Author

    Michael Cooperson, University of California, Los Angeles

Related Books

Sorry, this resource is locked

Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email lecturers@cambridge.org

Register Sign in
Please note that this file is password protected. You will be asked to input your password on the next screen.

» Proceed

You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.

Continue ×

Continue ×

Continue ×
warning icon

Turn stock notifications on?

You must be signed in to your Cambridge account to turn product stock notifications on or off.

Sign in Create a Cambridge account arrow icon
×

Find content that relates to you

Join us online

This site uses cookies to improve your experience. Read more Close

Are you sure you want to delete your account?

This cannot be undone.

Cancel

Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.

If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.

×
Please fill in the required fields in your feedback submission.
×