ShihÃÂb al-Dën Abà « IsḥÃÂq IbrÃÂhëm ibn ÿAbd AllÃÂh ibn ÿAbd al-Munÿim ibn Abë al-Dam al-Ḥamawë (29 July 1187 â 18 November 1244), known as Ibn Abë al-Dam, was an Arab historian and ShÃÂfiÿë jurist.
Ibn Abë al-Dam was born in ḤamÃÂt under Ayyà «bid rule on 29 July 1187. He studied in Baghdad, the capital of the ÿAbbÃÂsid Caliphate; taught in the Ayyà «bid cities of ḤamÃÂt, Aleppo and Cairo; and was in 1225 appointed qÃÂá¸Âë (chief judge) of ḤamÃÂt. In his own writings, he insists that he played no role in the coming to power of his patron, Emir al-NÃÂá¹£ir Qilij ArslÃÂn, in 1221.
Ibn Abë al-Dam belonged to the ShÃÂfiÿë school of jurisprudence (fiqh). Al-MuáºÂaffar II, who replaced al-NÃÂá¹£ir as emir of ḤamÃÂt in 1229, sent him on a diplomatic mission to Baghdad in AH 641 (1243/1244). The following year, he was sent back to inform the Abbasid court of al-MuáºÂaffar's death. He fell ill with dysentery on the journey at al-Maÿarra and returned to ḤamÃÂt, where he died on the same day he entered the town, 18 November 1244.
Ibn Abë al-Dam wrote several works in Arabic. His only preserved historical work, al-ShamÃÂrëkh min al-Taþrëkh, is a short annalistic history from the time of Muḥammad down to AH 628 (1230/31). It is found in at least two manuscripts: Oxford, Bodleian Library, ms. Marsh 60 (Uri 728) and Alexandria, Municipal Library, ms. 1292b. It is dedicated to al-MuáºÂaffar II. Ibn Abë al-Dam includes in it a copy of the diploma by which the Sultan al-KÃÂmil invested al-MuáºÂaffar with ḤamÃÂt. He defended the sultan's policy towards the Sixth Crusade, which resulted in the return of Jerusalem to crusader rule in 1229.
Ibn Abë al-Dam's other known work of history, a massive biographical dictionary in six volumes entitled al-Taþrëkh al-MuáºÂaffarë, is lost. It is probably the "large history" (al-taþrëkh al-kabër) that he refers to in the ShamÃÂrëkh. It was written first and was dedicated to al-MuáºÂaffar at his accession in 1229. According to al-SakhÃÂwë's IÿlÃÂn, it was arranged alphabetically beginning with "a biography of the Prophet, followed, successively, by the caliphs, philosophers-theologians, ḥadîṯ scholars, ascetics, grammarians, lexicographers, Qurþân commentators, wazîrs, (army) leaders, and poets." Persons with the name Muḥammad were listed first and women last.
Besides his historical works, Ibn Abë al-Dam wrote commentaries on al-GhazÃÂlë's WasëṠand Abà « IsḥÃÂq al-ShërÃÂzë's Tanbëh. His Tadqëq al-ÿinÃÂya fë taḥqëq al-riwÃÂya is on the transmission of ḥadëth. He also wrote works on Islamic sects and the conduct of judges (adab al-qaá¸ÂÃÂþ). His legal opinions were discussed by Taqë al-Dën and TÃÂj al-Dën al-Subkë.
The following is the account in al-ShamÃÂrëkh of the siege of Damascus in 1229: <blockquote> This year al-Malik al-Aà ¡raf returned from Tall al-ÿAÃÂà «l and camped about Damascus at the beginning of Rabëþ I, putting it under siege for [the months of] Rabëþ and the two ÃÂumÃÂdÃÂ-s. The Sultan al-Malik al-KÃÂmil arrived and camped there, and there were many engagements, which are well-known, until the situation of the city's garrison became serious. There was nothing left for al-Malik al-NÃÂsir but to throw himself on the mercy of the Sultan al-Malik al-Kãmil and to sue for his clemency. So he went out to meet him fearfully and fell to the ground before him and kissed his feet.</blockquote>