Tabaqat

[Kerby Kolpack]

Tabaqat (Arabic: طبقات ṭabaqāt) is a genre of Islamic biographical literature that is organized according to the century in which the notable individuals (such as scholars, poets etc.) lived. Each century or generation is known as a ṭabaqah, the plural of which is ṭabaqāt. The ṭabaqāt writings depict the past of a particular tradition of religious affiliation or scholarship and follows a chronological parameter that stretch from an authoritative starting-point to the generation (ṭabaqah) immediately preceding the assumed author.[1]

The tabaqat literature originated sometime within the late eighth and ninth centuries.[2] Another account also cited that the tabaqat format became popular during the period of early hadith transmitter critics, emerging amid the effort to identify, classify, and evaluate transmitters in the discipline known as ilm al-rijāl.[3] The Tabaqat literature were written as tools to assist the muhaddiths in their efforts to classify hadith transmitters and to determine the quality of particular isnads. The isnad as a system for authenticating the memory of prophetic period required righteous, honest, and competent transmitters in every generation. Biographical entries in the ṭabaqāt literature typically offer evaluations of the personal, religious and intellectual quality of their subjects.[4]

Famous examples of Tabaqat literature include Ṭabaqāt al-Ḥanābilah originally by Ibn Abi Ya'la and then by Ibn Rajab. Kitab Tabaqat al-Mutazilah (concerned with theologians of the Mutazilite school) by Ahmad bin Yahya al-Murtada, Kitāb al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kabīr (about the companions of the Prophet and their successors) by Ibn Sa'd and - more recently - Tabaghat Aa'lam Al-Shia (about famous Shia scholars] by Agha Bozorg Tehrani. The case of Ibrahim Hafsi's compendium of works, which are based on the ṭabaqāt historiographical framework, also demonstrate how the genre is applied in various fields in the Arabo-Islamic civilization and religious disciplines.[5]

Tabaqat-i Nasiri (Persian: طبقات ناصری), named for Sultan Nasir-ud-Din, is an elaborate history of the Islamic world written in Persian by Minhaj-i-Siraj Juzjani[1] and completed in 1260.[2] Consisting of 23 volumes and written in a blunt straightforward style, Juzjani devoted many years to the creation of this book even providing references for his information.[3] Although a large portion of the book is devoted to the Ghurids, it also contains a history of the predecessors in Ghazna before the Ghaznavid Sebuktigin took power.[1] In compiling his Tabaqat i Nasiri, Juzjani used other books now lost; part of Baihaqi's reign of Sebuktigin, Abu'l-Qasim Imadi's Ta'rikh-i mujadwal and most likely Ibn Haisam's Qisas-i thani.[1] Juzjani's "tabaqat" would initiate the form of writing for dynastic history in centuries to come.[2]

The purpose of the Tabaqat-i Nasiri was to account for the Muslim dynasties that originated in Iran and Central Asia.[2] It starts with the prophets and explains their piety and morality. This continues up to Abdullah, father of Muhammad, at which point a history of Muhammad's life is told.[2] Within his Tabaqat-i Nasiri, Juzjani tells of his religious views and his historiographical approach to Islam and Muslim rulers.[2]

Volume XI: Is a history of the Ghaznavids from Sabuktigin to Khusrau Malik.[3]Volume XVII: Gives an historical account of the Ghurids and their rise to power in 1215 to their end with Sultan Alauddin.[3]Volume XIX: Is a history of the Ghurid sultans Saifuddin Suri to Qutbuddin Aibek.[3]Volume XX: Is a history of Aibek and the first four rulers of Laknauti until their demise by Iltutmish in 1236.[3]Volume XXII: Is a biographical volume of courtiers, generals and provincial governors within the sultanate from 1227 until the early history of wazir Balban.[3]Volume XXIII: Gives indepth information concerning Genghis Khan, his successors up to 1259, and the atrocities committed by the Mongols against Muslim.[3]

Tabaqat-i-Nasiri a medieval text by Minhaj-i-Siraj. It is an important source book for the reconstruction of the history of foundation of Muslim rule in Bengal. The history of the first fifty years of Muslim rule in Bengal is found only in this text.

Minhaj's family originally belonged to Jurjan, on the northwest frontier of Ghor. He was born in about 1193 AD and his father was a Qazi of the Ghorid sultans. Minhaj came to India at the age of 34 and by that time he was fully educated according to the standard of the time and had some experience of diplomatic mission. He came to the court of Nasiruddin Qubacha at Uchch, who appointed him a Qazi. After Sultan Shamsuddin iltutmish had occupied Multan from the hands of Qubacha, Minhaj moved to Delhi.

At Delhi Minhaj found a favourable atmosphere for his genius to flourish and he occupied the posts of Imam, Qazi, Khatib etc and performed his duties efficiently. He came in close touch with the sultans of Delhi, and occupied various posts like principal of madrasas, imam, khatib, qazi and sadr-i-jahan. While holding the office of Qazi of Delhi in the reign of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud he wrote his famous book Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, and dedicated it to the reigning sultan. In 1259 AD in his late sixties, he promises to continue his narratives further if health permitted him, but his hopes were not fulfilled. Either his life soon came to an end, or some portion of his book containing the history later to 1259 AD has not come down to posterity.

Tabaqat-i-Nasiri is the only authentic source for the history of Bengal from the conquest of Muhammad bakhtiyar khalji till 1259 AD, when it comes to an end. Other contemporary sources are a few inscriptions and coins. The Tabaqat-i-Nasiri is not only a contemporary book, it is important for two reasons. First, the author had come to Bengal and stayed there for about two years collecting materials for his book and also taking interest in the political matters; and secondly, because he devoted a section (tabaqat) in his book in discussing the history of the foundation of Muslim rule in Bengal. Besides this particular section dealing with the Khalji Maliks of Lakhnauti (from Bakhtiyar to Ghiyasuddin iwaz khalji), he also discussed the history of Bengal under Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish and his successors. He also devoted sections to the Shamsi Maliks, ie the nobles of Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish, some of whom acted as governors of Bengal. In fact the history of Bengal from the Turkish conquest upto 1259 AD is available only in the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri of Minhaj-i-Siraj.

Minhaj met Malik Izzuddin tughral tughan khan at Kara in about 1242 and thence came to Bengal capital lakhnauti. He stayed in Bengal for about two years and witnessed some important events. He joined Tughan Khan in his wars against Orissa, and acted as a mediator between his patron (Tughan Khan) and Malik Tamar Khan Qiran, governor of Oudh when both were quarrelling among themselves for the possession of Lakhnauti. During his stay at the Bengal capital he collected information about Bakhtiyar Khalji's conquests from his surviving associates. He also utilised the information that he could collect from people at Delhi who took part in battles of the Delhi sultans against the Bengal rulers.

In the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, the author also gives an idea about the development of Muslim society in Bengal. He says that Bakhtiyar Khalji built mosques, madrasas and khanqahs in the capital, and the nobles also followed his example. Sultan Ghiyasuddin Iwaz Khalji also built mosque and madrasas, he also arranged lectures on Islamic subjects (tazkir), which was delivered by Muslim divines coming from Muslim cultural centres of Central Asia. One such Muslim divine was Jalaluddin son of Jamaluddin Ghaznavi who delivered lectures in the assembly hall of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Iwaz Khalji. [Abdul Karim]

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