Kitāb Futūḥ al-buldān (English translation) Related publications

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Subject: Middle East and Islamic Studies

Subtitle: The Origins of the Islamic State
Author: Aḥmad b. Yaḥyā al-Balādhūrī
Translation by: P.K. Ḥitti (volume I: 1916) and F.C. Murgotten (volume II: 1924)

The Origins of the Islamic State is the English translation of Kitāb Futūḥ al-buldān, written by Aḥmad b. Yaḥyā al-Balādhūrī (d. c. 892 CE). The work offers an account of the early conquests of the Islamic polity. It has the form of a geographical survey of the Caliphate’s territories, describing how each location came under Muslim rule. It was translated into English by Philip Khûri Ḥitti (volume I: 1916) and Francis Clark Murgotten (volume II: 1924).

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  • Volume I
  • OIS Volume I Part I – Arabia
  • Al-Madînah
  • The Possessions of the banu-an-Naḍîr
  • The Possessions of the banu-Ḳuraiẓah
  • Khaibar
  • Fadak
  • Wâdi-l-Ḳura and Taimâ’
  • Makkah
  • The Wells of Makkah
  • The Floods in Makkah
  • Aṭ-Ṭâ’if
  • Tabâlah and Jurash
  • Tabûk, Ailah, Adhruḥ, Maḳna and al-Jarbâ’
  • Dûmat al-Jandal
  • The Capitulation of Najrân
  • Al-Yaman
  • ‘Umân
  • Al-Baḥrain
  • Al-Yamâmah
  • The Apostasy of the Arabs in the Caliphate of abu-Bakr aṣ-Ṣiddîḳ
  • The Apostasy of the banu-Walî‘ah and al-Ash‘ath ibn-Ma‘dikarib ibn-Mu‘âwiyah-l-Kindi
  • Al-Aswad al-‘Ansi and those in al-Yaman who apostatized with him
  • OIS Volume I Part II – Syria
  • The Conquest of Syria
  • The Advance of Khâlid ibn-al-Walîd on Syria and the Places he reduced on his Way
  • The Conquest of Buṣra
  • The Battle of Ajnâdîn (or Ajnâdain)
  • The Battle of Fiḥl in the Province of the Jordan
  • The Province of the Jordan
  • The Battle of Marj aṣ-Ṣuffar
  • The Conquest of Damascus and its Province
  • Ḥimṣ
  • The Battle of al-Yarmûk
  • Palestine
  • The Province of Ḳinnasrîn and the cities called al-‘Awâṣim
  • Cyprus
  • The Samaritans
  • Al-Jarâjimah
  • The Frontier Fortresses of Syria
  • OIS Volume I Part III – Mesopotamia
  • The Conquest of Mesopotamia [al-Jazîrah]
  • The Christians of the banu-Taghlib ibn-Wâ’il
  • The Fortifications of the Mesopotamian Frontier
  • Arabic made the Language of the State Registers
  • OIS Volume I Part IV – Armenia
  • The Conquest of Armenia
  • OIS Volume I Part V – Northern Africa
  • The Conquest of Egypt and al-Maghrib [Mauritania]
  • The Conquest of Alexandria
  • The Conquest of Barḳah and Zawîlah
  • The Conquest of Tripoli
  • The Conquest of Ifrîḳiyah
  • The Conquest of Ṭanjah [Tangiers]
  • OIS Volume I Part VI – Andalusia
  • The Conquest of Andalusia
  • OIS Volume I Part VII – Islands in the Sea
  • The Conquest of Certain Islands in the Sea
  • OIS Volume I Part VIII – Nubia
  • Terms made with Nubia
  • The Ḳarâṭîs
  • OIS Volume I Part IX Al-‘Irâḳ and Persia
  • The Conquest of as-Sawâd
  • The Caliphate of ‘Umar ibn-al-Khaṭṭâb
  • The Battle of Ḳuss an-Nâṭif, or the Battle of al-Jisr
  • The Battle of Mihrân or an-Nukhailah
  • The Battle of al-Ḳâdisîyah
  • The Conquest of al-Madâ’in
  • The Battle of Jalûlâ’
  • The Founding of al-Kûfah
  • Wâsiṭ al-‘Irâḳ
  • Al-Baṭâ’iḥ
  • Madînat as-Salâm
  • Arabic Made the Language of the Register
  • OIS Volume I Part X – Media [Al-Jibâl]
  • Ḥulwân
  • The Conquest of Nihâwand
  • Ad-Dînawar, Mâsabadhân and Mihrijânḳadhaf
  • The Conquest of Hamadhân
  • Ḳumm, Ḳâshân and Iṣbahân
  • The Death of Yazdajird ibn-Shahriyâr ibn-Kisra Abarwîz ibn-Hurmuz ibn-Anûshirwân
  • Volume II
  • OIS Volume II Part XI – Northern Media (Al-Jibâl)
  • Ar-Rai and Kumas
  • Conquest of ḳazwin and ZanjÂn
  • OIS Volume II Part XII – Adharbaijân
  • The Conquest of Adharbaijân
  • Villages and Towns
  • OIS Volume II Part XIII – Mosul (Al-Mauṣil)
  • Mosul
  • Shahrazur. As-Sâmaghân, and Darâbâdh
  • OIS Volume II Part XIV – Jurjân and Ṭabaristân and Their Districts
  • Early Campaigns
  • Final Conquest
  • OIS Volume II Part XV – The Districts of the Tigris (Kuwar Dijlah)
  • The Conquest of the Districts of the Tigris
  • The Founding of Al-Basrah
  • The Fief of Nâfi‘
  • Houses in Al-Baṣrah
  • Baths of Al-Baṣrah
  • Castles in Al-Baṣrah
  • Canals and Other Fiefs
  • Canals and other Fiefs continued
  • OIS Volume II Part XVI – Khuzistân
  • Concerning the Asâwirah and the Zutt
  • The Districts of Al-Ahwâz
  • OIS Volume II Part XVII – Fârs and Kirmân
  • Fârs
  • Kirmân
  • OIS Volume II Part XVIII – Sijistân and Kâbul
  • ‘Uthmân to Marwân I
  • ‘Abd-al-Malik to Ma’mun
  • OIS Volume II Part XIX – Khurâsân
  • Caliphates of ‘Umar and ‘Uthmân
  • Caliphates of ‘Ali and Mu‘âwiyah
  • Caliphates of Yazîd and ‘Abd-al-Malik
  • Mûsa’s Insurrection
  • Ḳutaibah’s Conquests
  • Ḳutaibah’s Downfall
  • Caliphates of Yazîd and HishâM
  • Under the Abbasides
  • OIS Volume II Part XX – Conquest of As-Sind
  • Border Raids
  • Campaigns Under Al-Ḥajjâj
  • Caliphate of Sulaimân
  • Under the Abbâsides
  • OIS Volume II Part XXI – Appendices
  • Concerning the Laws of Kharâj Lands
  • History of the ‘Atâ’ in the Caliphate of ‘Umar ibn-al-Khaṭṭâb
  • The Seal
  • The Coinage
  • The Art of Writing