Ibn Hatim

Badr al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Ḥātim al-Hamdānī, commonly known simply as Ibn Hatim, was a 13th-century official and historian in Yemen, under the Rasulid dynasty.

Very little is known about Ibn Hatim's life, all of which is gleaned from his chief historical work, Kitāb al-Simṭ al-ghālī al-thaman fī akhbār al-mulūk min al-Ghuzz bi’l-Yaman. His date of birth is unknown, but he was a member of the clan of the Banu Yam, who were dominant in the region of the provincial capital, Sana'a. Although an adherent of Tayyibi Isma'ilism, he managed to have a successful career under the Sunni Rasulids, rising under Sultan (r. 1249–1295) to become one of only a handful of officials "employed by the sultan in the capacity of roving ambassador, personally representing him wherever in the country he was needed, now negotiating with recalcitrant tribes, now conveying a personal message from the sultan, at times even participating in military operations" (G. R. Smith). The date of his death is likewise unknown.^[1]

Ibn Hatim wrote two historical works, the first being Kitāb al-ʿIqd al-thamīn fī akhbār mulūk al-Yaman al-mutaʾakhkhirīn, a general history of Yemen, which has not survived. He is therefore known from his other work, the Kitāb al-Simṭ, a history of Yemen under the Ayyubids and the first two Rasulid sultans. G. R. Smith writes that despite a slight bias towards his own clan, Ibn Hatim's account is "a refreshingly impartial one", and contains much unique information about the country during the period it covers.^[1]

References[]

Sources[]

• Smith, G. R. (2004). "Ibn Ḥātim". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E. & Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume XII: Supplement. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 387–388. ISBN 978-90-04-13974-9.