History
Technically speaking, History is a
science which deals with the events and occurrences attached to Prophets,
kings, conquerors and eminent personalities and significant events of the ages
past. These events give us to know about the way of living, moral values and
social learning in the past. Some people have defined History in a manner that
humans living together form society and that collection of men gives birth to
city, and all the states and conditions undergone by them put together take the
shape of historical events, while collecting such events by the latter from the
former and leaving them for the posterity as a model for learning lesson and
benefiting from, is called History. Some others say that the Arabic word Târikh
(history) has been constructed by reversing the last constituent of the word
Takhir, and Takhir means to relate the past with the future; for instance, it
is to tell that so-and-so religion or rule or battle occurred at such and such
period. Thus, it is the only source of knowing what happened in a certain
period. In short, much hairsplitting has been done in defining History. But the
sum and substance of all the definitions is the same what has been described
above. If the gist of the gist is meant, one can say: "The states and
conditions and information which are chronologically arranged make
History."
Need
of History
History produces in our heart and
mind blessed fervor by acquainting us with the living conditions of our elders
and ancestors. Human nature has a particular kind of thirst and desire which
activates man to travel through the countries, to stroll in gardens and roaming
the mountains and forests. This demand of human nature keeps children restless
to hear stories of cock-sparrow and hen-sparrow, and to the young to hear tales
of parrots and starlings.
And this is what urges to carry out
the command of Quran: "So ask of those who know if you know not."
(16:43) and turns human mind to go through historical books. And keeping this
in view, the Creator of natures has put some taste in heavenly Books. What a
great nation was Children of Israel that they had claimed: "We are the
children of Allâh and His loved ones." (5:18) but the more they were
getting unaware of the states and conditions of their elders and ancestors, the
more they kept falling into the quagmire of disgrace. Consequently, Allâh the
Almighty has addressed them repeatedly with the words "O Children of
Israel! Remember..." and reminded them of the conditions of their elders.
Benefits
of History
Study of history sends ambition
high, draws toward virtues and keeps away from vices. It develops wisdom and
insight, sets farsightedness to grow and creates sense of caution and
vigilance. It fills the heart with utmost joys by warding off sadness and
gloom. Its study produces in man power to stabilize the truth and falsify the
untruth and enhances power of decision. It creates patience and firmness and
keeps heart and mind studded with freshness and growth.
In short, knowledge of history is a preacher
of thousand preachers and the best source of learning lessons. By studying
history, a man finds himself constantly in the company of Prophets, kings,
conquerors, friends of Allâh, wise men, scholars and men of consummate skill
and learning, and benefits from the fountain of their knowledge, wisdom, excellence and virtues.
And he can easily save himself from the mistakes committed by great kings,
viziers, military commanders and philosophers. No other study can fill human
hearts with so much joys without putting any mental pressure or causing boredom
as a study of history can do.
Preservation
of Martial Characters through History:
The nation, fully aware of its
historical background and events of the past, can essentially and successfully
preserve its national character and distinction, and can restrain its people
from getting demoralized in any field of activity; it rather leads them to the
lost pinnacle of perfection.
An individual, who is uninformed of
the background of his fathers, may indulge in embezzlement. But one who knows
that so-and-so among his fathers achieved name and fame on such and such
occasion, keeps his honesty intact caring least for lacs of rupees. A person
who is uninformed of his fathers’ past, may like to escape from the battlefield.
But one who is informed of some occasion when one of his fathers took the field
in an adverse situation and fought fearlessly even at the cost of his life,
will never flee the battlefield, and the very background of his elder will
serve as fetter for him.
Now imagine about the high morals
like loyalty, truth, piety, modesty, generosity etc. The way the elders and
ancestors lived, can produce the spirit of living in the nations and peace in
the world. And, perhaps, because of this reason that our neighboring states who
have no glorious history of their own, get their purpose served by changing
fictitious tales and false stories into historical accounts thinking least
about their disgraceful position in the court of the historians.
History
and Family Virtues:
Since history contains virtues of
the good and evils of the evildoers, an individual belonging to a mean or low
family can give only scant attention to true historical accounts. Noble nations
preserve the great and unique deeds of their ancestors in their memory which
they follow to keep their nobility intact. Ignoble nations forget even some of
the good deeds of their ancestors with the passage of time. To a family or
nation whose ancestors have achieved a place of distinction in the sphere of
Divine worship, bravery, art and learning, power and grandeur etc., and they
have not totally ignored it, they could be activated by producing in them sense
of courage, determination, shame and honor. But this device cannot be attempted
in case of the mean nations. This is the reason why most often men from the
respectable nations, of the honorable lineage, sons of saintly people and the
virtuous have especial interest in and fondness for the knowledge of history.
None among the atheists and well-known coward had ever been a historian or a
leader of the historians.
Historian
The best among the historians is one
who is righteous in creed and pure in religious affairs; what he writes should
be true as a statement; he is supposed to neither conceal anything nor add
anything untrue on his own behalf. Wherever there is chance of stumbling or
being victim of misunderstanding, it is permissible to explain and clarify it.
It is essential for a historian neither to indulge in sycophancy nor harbor
malice against anybody. The style of writing should be simple, intelligible and
spontaneous.
Orientation in words and style kills
the very purpose of the historiography. This is the reason why histories
written in the form of poems are considered below standard with respect to reliability
and authenticity. He must be noted for honesty and integrity; he has to be
distinguished in speaking truth and acting gracefully; he is to be miles away
from nonsense talking, hate and dejection.
The work of compiling, collecting
and editing needs very hard labor and determination from a historian, but
still, he is not to be very sure of the veracity of events, for sure access to
facts behind an event is not guaranteed. Besides having considerable knowledge
of astronomy, geology, civics and religions of the world, a historian must be
intelligent, discerning and fair-minded along with being a litterateur and a
man with perfect command on expression so that he could state his motive easily
and effectively. Despite all this, there are some difficulties which appear to
be insoluble; for instance, a narrator relates about someone going to a
theatre. Now, such a narration gives a number of reasons about his visit and
nothing can be said to be essentially true:
1. The person who went to the theatre
is fond of songs.
2. He is not fond of hearing songs but
is actually a lover of beauty.
3. He is not a lover of beauty but, all
of a sudden, he has fallen in love with an actress.
4. He is not a lover of anybody but he
was essentially to meet a friend there.
5. He wanted to write an article on
theatre and hence he was bound to go there.
6. He had to deliver a lecture against
theatre and hence had to observe it closely.
7. He is employed in secret service and
his bounden duty led him there.
8. He himself hated theatre but his
friends forced him to go there.
9. He was a godly person and a pious
man of high degree, but he went to theatre to dissolve the devotion of the
people to himself.
10. He had gone there with the sole
purpose of picking pockets.
In short, one narrative can give
birth to hundreds of deductions. Moreover, any one healthy deduction needs
support of many other causes. Those supportive causes also have different
possibilities. If the historian is not just and he feels himself attracted to
any predetermined deduction, he very easily and carelessly overlooks opposing
pleas and collects favorable arguments by searching them everywhere. Thus he
seeks to mislead others by getting himself misled.
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