Abdul Latif | Miftah-ul-Tawarikh | A Review
Abdul Latif ‘Miftah-ul-Tawarikh’-A Review
‘Miftah-ul-Tawarikh’ is a historical book written in the Persian language by Abdul Latif, a historian who lived in the 13th century. It is considered one of the most important works of history in the Persian language, and it covers the history of India from the time of Alexander the Great to the reign of Sultan Alauddin Khalji.
The book is divided into two volumes, and each volume is further divided into several parts. The first volume covers the period from the time of Alexander the Great to the reign of the Ghaznavids, while the second volume covers the period from the Ghurids to the reign of Sultan Alauddin Khalji.
One of the strengths of the book is its detailed account of the political and military events of the time, as well as its coverage of the social and cultural aspects of the period. The author has also included a lot of information about the different rulers and their personalities, which gives readers a better understanding of the historical context.
The book also provides a detailed account of the religious and cultural practices of the time, including information about the spread of Islam and the different sects that existed during the period. The author has also included information about the contributions of different scholars and thinkers, which adds to the book’s overall value.
One of the weaknesses of the book is its heavy reliance on earlier historical sources, particularly the “Tabaqat-i-Nasiri” by Minhaj-i-Siraj. While this is understandable, given that Abdul Latif was writing several centuries after the events he was describing, it does mean that some of the information presented in the book is not as reliable as it could be.
Overall, “Miftah-ul-Tawarikh” is an important work of history that provides valuable insight into the political, social, and cultural developments of medieval India. While it has its limitations, it remains an important source of information for anyone interested in the history of the region. 0 0 0.
