The Mongols in the writings of Ibn Taymiyyah

This study discusses the history of the Mongols according to what is mentioned in the writings of Ibn Taymiyah. This is because Ibn Taymiyah appeared during the time of the Mongol presence in the Islamic lands in the seventh Hijri century / thirteenth Gregorian century, and he documented much of what he saw, read about, and heard regarding the Mongol invasion within his writings and letters. This made his writings highly significant as they came from a figure who witnessed the events. This study aims to demonstrate the scientific value of the historical aspect in Ibn Taymiyah's writings, especially the historical texts related to the Mongols, and whether Ibn Taymiyah's information about the history of the Mongols aligned with the historical sources that preceded and contemporaneous with him. Therefore, the study relied on the historical research methodology based on collecting texts and comparing them with historical sources. The scientific material was divided into an introduction, a prelude, three chapters, and a conclusion. The introduction clarified the importance of the topic, its objectives, reasons for choosing it, its difficulties, and an overview of the main research sources. The prelude included a brief biography of Ibn Taymiyah, covering his upbringing, knowledge, and reformist role, as well as a concise overview of the situation in the Islamic East in the seventh Hijri century, including the political, social, and cultural currents. The first chapter addressed the historical aspects in Ibn Taymiyah's writings, such as his familiarity with history books and his methodology in dealing with historical texts. The second chapter discussed the Mongols, their beliefs, and their Islam in Ibn Taymiyah's writings, as well as the impact of the Mongol presence on those writings. The third chapter examined the Mongol invasion, the role of the Batini sects in the invasion, and the reasons for the obligation to fight the Mongols according to Ibn Taymiyah. It also included a letter from Ibn Taymiyah concerning the Mongols. Among the most prominent findings of the study is that Ibn Taymiyah's attempt to apply many methodological and scientific principles to numerous historical narratives and issues is one of the most important foundations of modern historical research methodology. The study also confirmed that the Mongol presence during Ibn Taymiyah's era had a clear impact on his doctrinal and jurisprudential writings, which was evident through his extensive knowledge of some Mongol customs and systems. Additionally, the study showed that some of the information Ibn Taymiyah provided about the history of the Mongols agreed with what was recorded in historical sources, while other details were unique to Ibn Taymiyah.