THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BOOK (AL-ZKHAIR AND AL-TAHF) IN TERMS OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION

Abstract

Written in the fifth century AH around (463 AH/1070 AD), Al-Qazi al-Rashid ibn al-Zubayr's book (Al-Dhakhair wa al-Tahf) is one of the rare and coherent books that contain important information on various aspects of the periods of Islamic civilization. This includes the ceremonies and occasions hosted by the Abbasid caliphs and rulers during the period in which the author lived. More importantly, the author himself was a state employee, and he directly witnessed some of the information that he recorded. In addition to the author’s biography and the methodology of writing the book, this study seeks to highlight the importance of the rare and civilizational information contained within the book, especially that which was not mentioned in other sources, such as the exchange of gifts between caliphs and rulers, ceremonies such as marriage, circumcision, funerals, the opening of new palaces, the appointment of caliphs, the reception of delegations and envoys, behavior, clothing, jewelry, perfumes, and furniture in their palaces, as well as the remaining antiquities.