On Sunday, September 28, 2025, the Department of History at the College of Education for Humanities, Tikrit University, held the defense of the M.A. thesis submitted by the student Hazem Mohammed Rashid, entitled “Social Conditions in Egypt through the Book Futuh Misr wa Akhbaruha by Ibn Abd al-Hakam (d. 257 AH / 870 AD).”
This study examines the life and intellectual contributions of the Egyptian historian and jurist Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Hakam (d. 257 AH / 870 AD), one of the prominent figures of thought and historiography in the 3rd century AH. It provides an analytical reading of his book Futuh Misr wa Akhbaruha, considered one of the earliest surviving sources on the history of Egypt since the Islamic conquest. The thesis outlines his biography—from his name, lineage, upbringing, and family, to his death—while also addressing his jurisprudential orientation, the challenges he faced in his scholarly and professional life, and his contributions to jurisprudence, hadith, and history, along with the role of his teachers and students in shaping his intellectual development.
Key Findings of the Study:
- Ibn Abd al-Hakam is regarded as one of the most prominent Egyptian historians of the 3rd century AH. His book Futuh Misr wa Akhbaruha stands out as the earliest available source on Islamic Egypt, rich in social content in addition to narrating the conquests.
- The population structure of Egypt at the time was highly diverse, consisting of Arabs, Copts, Berbers, Jews, Romans, and Persians, reflecting the religious and ethnic plurality of Egyptian society during the first two centuries after the Islamic conquest.
- The book highlights the division of society into three main classes: the ruling elite and state officials (king, caliph, prince), the middle class (chief of police, chamberlain, judge), and the general populace. This indicates the presence of a well-structured administrative and social system during that period.
Examination Committee:
- Prof. Dr. Qabas Farouq Saleh – Tikrit University, College of Education for Humanities – Chair
- Prof. Dr. Adham Hassan Farhan – Tikrit University, College of Education for Women – Member
- Prof. Dr. Thawra Khattab Ali – Tikrit University, College of Education for Humanities – Member
- Prof. Dr. Muthanna Abbas Awad – Tikrit University, College of Education for Humanities – Supervisor
Media and Government Communication Division – College of Education for Humanities – Tikrit University
