What are the best and most authentic books on the life of Harun al-Rashid, the Umayyad and Abbasid states, and the lives of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, may Allah be pleased with them, that are free of planted narrations?

Islamic history encompasses diverse events, yet it has been subjected to distortion and falsification, primarily due to two reasons: First, the absence of direct documentation of events or acceptable chains of transmission (isnād), leading to prevalent irregularities and discontinuities. Second, the lack of critical discernment among many early historians. Imam Ahmad cautioned against books lacking authentic foundations, such as those on maghāzī (military expeditions), malāhim (epics), and tafsīr (Qur'anic exegesis). Historians must present accounts based on their origins, principles, and the standard of wisdom, possessing knowledge of the narrators' circumstances, the customs of nations, and the established norms and traditions. Despite the shortcomings in historical verification, there are verified books that can be referenced, such as "al-'Awāsim min al-Qawāsim," "al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah," works by Al-Dhahabi, and numerous contemporary studies.