The History of Movarounnahr and its Source Analysis in "Futuh Al-Buldan" By Ahmad Ibn Yahya Al-Balazuri

Abstract

This study examines the representation of Transoxiana (Māwarāʾ al-Nahr) in Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyā al-Balādhurī’s Futūḥ al-Buldān, with particular attention to its source-critical and historiographical features. The analysis focuses on the narrative techniques employed in the work, including the use of isnād (chain of transmission), biographical reporting of transmitters (ruwāt), and instances of abbreviated narration where full chains are omitted. These methodological choices reflect the early Islamic historiographical tradition, which was closely connected to ḥadīth scholarship and its standards of authentication. The study further highlights al-Balādhurī’s reliance on a diverse network of transmitters from various regions, including scholars associated with Transoxiana, thereby demonstrating the geographical breadth of intellectual exchange in the early Islamic period. Special attention is given to the role of Central Asian scholars within the transmission chains, which underscores their contribution to the formation and preservation of historical knowledge. The findings indicate that Futūḥ al-Buldān should be regarded not only as a historical narrative of Islamic conquests but also as an important source for understanding the development of early Islamic historiography and its methodological foundations. The work reflects a transitional stage in historical writing, where critical approaches to sources and transmission began to take shape within the broader framework of Islamic scholarly tradition.