The College of Education Ibn Rushd for Humanities at the University of Baghdad discussed a master’s thesis entitled “Ibn Hisham al-Ansari (d. 761 AH/1359 CE): His Methodology and Sources in His Book Tahsil al-Uns li-Za’ir al-Quds”, submitted by Reem Qasim Hussein from the Department of History, specialising in Islamic History.
The examination committee was chaired by Dr Ghaniya Yasser Kabbashi, with Dr Maha Waddah Abdul Amir serving as a member and supervisor, Dr Doha Hadi as a member, and Dr Raed Rahim Khudair from Imam Al-Kadhim College serving as the external member.
The study aimed to shed light on the works of the scholar Ibn Hisham al-Ansari, particularly those that emphasised the revival of the Muslim community, the enhancement of its standing among nations, the preservation of religious awareness, and the advancement of cultural and educational efforts to guide and educate people, particularly visitors to Jerusalem and students of knowledge.
The study highlighted the author’s firsthand and field-based observations of the Rock of Jerusalem, which he described in detail in terms of its features, location, and surrounding structures. His direct observations enabled him to critically challenge certain claims and compare the architectural reality he witnessed with accounts transmitted by local inhabitants.
The author’s methodology was characterised by the integration of diverse sources. While the Holy Qur’an constituted a primary source, his work also drew on authenticated Prophetic traditions, historical accounts, and narratives. He examined the history of Jerusalem before and after the advent of Islam, combining these sources with his own observations and reported accounts to provide a comprehensive perspective on the city.
