دراسات وأبحاث
Volume 17, Numéro 4, Pages 218-228
2025-10-15

The Art Of Biographical Writing Among Algerians Through Abu Ras Al-nasiri's Book “al-iṣāba”

Authors : Boudia Mhamed . Makhlouf Abdelkader .

Abstract

Biography books are an important genre for recording influential lives and recording cultural and intellectual history. In the Muslim world, the literary tradition is exceptionally diverse, with differently varied works recording different aspects of the lives of rulers and scholars. The book "Al-Isaba" by Abu Ras al-Nasiri, which features extensive recording of the companions of the Prophet, is one of the chief contributions to the genre. This study explores the rarity of "Al-Isaba," contrasts it with similar books, and analyzes its contributions in Algerian and Islamic biographical literature. The outcome determines the unique importance of this book while opening gates for additional research in the field of Muslim biography.

Keywords

Abu Ras al-Nasiri ; Al-Isaba ; Biography books ; Companions ; Islamic historiography