Islamic History- Source Analysis of Treaty of ‘Abdallāh b. Sa‘d with the Nubians (651-2) as preserved in Al-Maqrīzī’s Khitat trans. Ḥasan, ‘Relations with the Muslim Arabs.’

This assignment is a source analysis.

Note that the source analysis is an example of a primary source but secondary sources need to be included as it source analysis are mainly critical.

Although there is no specific question in place, use the following questions and take them into consideration when analysing the source:

1. How does this source describe the attempted conquest of 651-652 and the resulting Baqt with Nubia?
2. What are the historiographical issues that Spaulding has with al-Maqrīzī’s portrayal of the Baqt?
3. Whose perspective is missing from this source? Is that missing perspective relevant to understanding of:
a) Who actually won the battle at Dongola in 651-652 CE?
b) How should we approach our understanding of the Baqt, i.e. what exactly was it
and what was agreed within it?