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What are the reliable books and lectures you recommend for an Azhari female student who wishes to expand her study of history, after being unable to join a specialized college?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

There are many recommended books and sources for studying Islamic history, and the books of early scholars are preferable to others for those who can understand them. Among the most important books of the early scholars are: Tarikh al-Umam wa al-Muluk (History of Nations and Kings) by al-Tabari, Al-Muntazam by Ibn al-Jawzi, Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh (The Complete History) by Ibn al-Athir, Tarikh al-Islam (History of Islam) by al-Dhahabi, Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah (The Beginning and the End) by Ibn Kathir, Tarikh Ibn Khaldun (The History of Ibn Khaldun), and Shadharat al-Dhahab (Fragments of Gold) by Ibn al-Imad. As for later and contemporary history, Tarikh Aja'ib al-Athar (History of the Wonders of Antiquities) by al-Jabarti and the book Al-Tarikh al-Islami (Islamic History) by Mahmoud Shaker are recommended. Caution should be exercised regarding history books authored by Orientalists due to their inclusion of distortions. Among the prominent contemporary historians is Dr. Bashar Awwad Ma'rouf, and there are useful historical lectures by Dr. Ahmed Youssef Al-Duaij.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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