The Method of Historiography for Notable Figures: Ibn Abd al-Malik al-Marrakushi as a Model

Abstract

This article examines the method of historiography for notable figures through Ibn Abd al-Malik al-Marrakushi as a representative model. It begins by emphasizing the importance of history in preserving civilizational memory and documenting the lives of scholars, writers, and influential figures in Arab-Islamic societies. The author argues that biographical historiography is not merely the collection of reports and life narratives, but a scholarly practice aimed at presenting accurate accounts of individuals, their intellectual roles, and their cultural, social, and political contexts. The article highlights Ibn Abd al-Malik al-Marrakushi’s place in Moroccan and Andalusian authorship, especially through his work Al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila, a major biographical compilation covering scholars, jurists, poets, and men of letters. It focuses on the main features of his method, including the verification of names, genealogies, birth and death dates, the authentication of reports through reliable sources, and the correction of errors and textual distortions. It also discusses his analytical and critical approach in evaluating the knowledge, works, and literary contributions of the figures he records. The article concludes that Ibn Abd al-Malik offered a rigorous model of biographical historiography that combines documentation, precision, and critical judgment while revealing the depth of intellectual life in Morocco and al-Andalus.