Al-Ulaymi’s Methodology and Sources (d. 928 AH/1522 CE) in His Book Al-Uns al-Jalil bi-Tarikh al-Quds wa al-Khalil

Abstract

This research addresses the personality of the historian and jurist Mujir al-Din al- Ulaymi al-Hanbali (d. 928 AH / 1522 CE) and his methodology in his book Al-Uns al-Jalil bi-Tarikh al-Quds wa al-Khalil (The Glorious Company in the History of Jerusalem and Hebron). His book is regarded as one of the most prominent sources chronicling the history of the cities of Jerusalem (al-Quds) and Hebron (al-Khalil) during the Mamluk era. The study aims to highlight Al-Ulaymi's scholarly standing and his role in preserving the historical heritage of Jerusalem and Hebron by analyzing his biography, his academic upbringing, and the sources he relied upon in compiling his book, in addition to his methodology in presentation, documentation, and arrangement. Finally, the significance of the study lies in its focus on a Jerusalemite historian who lived within the environment he described. He combined field observation with precise scholarly study, making his book a comprehensive record of the two cities' history across religious, architectural, and social aspects and an indispensable source for researchers in the history of Jerusalem and Hebron.