By, Rafif Ridwan & Sayem Ahmed
History is the study of the past, including historical occurrences that influenced human
societies and their historical development. History is extremely important in Islam. It is so
important that historical narratives have a significant impact on both the Qur’an and Hadith.
History and Islam itself are inextricably linked. As Allah said in the Holy Qur’an: “There is a
lesson for rational people in these stories, in fact. It (Qur’an) is not a false assertion; rather, it
is a comprehensive explanation of everything, a confirmation of earlier events, and a source
of mercy and guidance for those who believe. (Ayah 111, Surah Yusuf). Conversely, hadith
refers to the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) sayings, deeds, and endorsements.
Islam places a high value on history since it teaches us about the Prophet’s life and the deeds
of his companions, which is vital information for all Muslims. Furthermore, history is
essential to the study of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) since it clarifies how the faith was
practiced and upheld by the companions, the Tabi’un (successors), and prior academics.
Thus, history has an unmatched relevance in comprehending and applying Islamic beliefs.
One of the main ways that history is written is by analyzing historical material and
occurrences. Though Western thought, secularism, and materialist perspectives have a
significant impact on how history is interpreted, perspective or philosophy also plays a
significant part in the writing of history. By pushing religion to the periphery of historical
studies, the Western, secular, and materialist viewpoint diminishes the spiritual and moral
dimensions of Islamic history. Secularism keeps history and religion apart, while the Western
viewpoint emphasizes political economy and reason. Furthermore, materialism views history
through the prism of material necessities and class conflict. These perspectives therefore
present religious events in a limited manner and distort the actual nature of history.
Islam regards the Holy Qur’an as the ultimate source of history. It consists of all aspects of
life ranging from inheritance, family, qisas, and one of the most recurring themes in the
Qur’an is history. It acts as a lesson to us humans to look for signs that all the civilizations
that were greater and more powerful than us, could cease to exist because of them not
believing in Allah SWT as stated in surah Al-Rum 30:9. When the Qur’an was revealed to
our Rasul SAW, he disseminated not only the content of the Qur’an, but also personified the
Qur’an itself. He is so perfect that Rasulullah is the reflection of the Qur’an. His acts,
sayings, and wisdom became the sunnah for his followers at that time until the end of time.
The sunnah then became the complimentary teachings and source of knowledge besides the
Qur’an for his ummah to uphold. In order to maintain the reliability and authenticity of the
sayings and actions of the prophet SAW that can be inherited to us in the contemporary times,
is through isnad. It is translated into “chain of transmission or narration” from the sahabah
that observe the sayings and actions that they learned from the Prophet SAW and passed it
down for ages. Now, the criteria for a person to be able to pass down his sanad is that he must
be an honest person that never tells a lie, a pious person, a person with strong memory and
strong skills of comprehension. After all the lists are checked, a person’s sanad can now be
considered as sahih which means genuine or authentic.
Islam indirectly teaches us about how to preserve history. That is, through primary and secondary, by which primary means it is recorded by a witness or first-hand experience, whereas secondary means second-hand experience or person not present during the event. For example, primary source is when a
sahabah’s first-hand experience witnessing how to do ablution by observing our Prophet and
then recording it or orally transmitting it to another sahabah. While, the secondary source is
the another sahabah heard from that particular sahabah who observed directly how to do
ablution from our Prophet. Now, to properly transmit or receive the sayings or doings by the
Prophet, one must have all the good and trustworthy characteristics within, so that it can be
transmitted genuinely or purely. Having good character is the key aspect of transmitting
knowledge, so that it can be passed down for ages unbroken. However, the challenges to this
method of recording all the evidence was a painstaking process. The abundance of recording
all accounts of witnesses or testimonies could take some time, much less checking their
credibility according to the aforementioned method one by one. Another challenge is fighting
for a non-credible source. Same as hadiths where it has a dhaif chain of narration, history can
be written by exaggeration in numbers, its effect, how it is portrayed, spreading due to
political or personal motives, which further complicates the validity of the sources. Overall,
Islam emphasises the preservation of authentic knowledge and history through rigorous
transmission methods, highlighting the importance of integrity, credibility, and vigilance
against distortion.
Furthermore, everything in Islam is deeply connected to history. In fact, this is not only true
for Islam; rather, all religions in the world have a profound relationship with history. If
history becomes Islamized, it helps us remember our past. For example, a person who has
knowledge of history does not become hopeless in difficult times. Instead, they reflect on
how earlier people solved similar problems, and this helps them stand up again. It also gives
them a chance to compare the past and present situations and choose the better course of
action. Especially for Muslims, the stories of earlier generations increase their motivation and
desire, and bring joy and inspiration. For instance, when we read about the life of the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH), our passion increases. We see how much hardship he endured, yet he
never gave up. He always strived for the well-being of his people. Even though many did not
understand him and oppressed him, our beloved Prophet never retreated from spreading and
promoting Islam.
Ultimately, history holds a central and sacred place in Islam, serving not only as a record of
past events but as a powerful tool for guidance, reflection, and spiritual growth. The Qur’an
and Hadith are deeply rooted in historical narratives that offer lessons, warnings, and
inspirations for believers. Islams’s meticulous approach to preserving historical knowledge
through reliable transmission methods like isnad, demonstrated the value placed in
authenticity and integrity. Despite modern challenges such as secular interpretations and
unreliable sources, Islamic history remains a vitral means of understanding the faith and
strengthening one’s relationship with Allah SWT and as Him has blessed the integrity and
protection of Islam in the Qur’an surah Al-Hijr. Overall, by reflecting on the lives of the
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the earlier generations, Muslims can find motivation,
resilience, and direction in navigating the present and shaping the future.
(Photo is from Stock Photos, Athikhom Saengchai/Shutterstock)***
