Uthman ibn Bishr


Uthman ibn Abdullah ibn Uthman ibn Bishr of the Banu Zayd, a Qahtanite tribe, famously known as Ibn Bishr was a Saudi historian, littérateur, and genealogist. He was a contemporary of the First Saudi State and the Second Saudi State, and he chronicled their events in his book Unwan al-Majd fi Tarikh Najd.

Lineage

He is Uthman ibn Abdullah ibn Uthman ibn Ahmad ibn Bishr ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hammad ibn Harqus ibn Fayyad ibn Atwi ibn Zayd, from Quda'a, from Qahtan.

Early life

He was born in the town of Jalajil, one of the towns of Najd in the Sudair region, in the year 1210 AH. He grew up there, received his education, and memorized the Quran. He was passionate about knowledge and fond of scholars, traveling throughout Sudair, Al-Washm, and Riyadh in pursuit of knowledge.

Studies in Diriyah

He traveled to Diriyah in 1224 AH. There, he learned from its scholars, including

Works

Unwan al-Majd fi Tarikh Najd, in two parts.Suhayl fi Dhikr al-Khayl, a book concerning equine affairs.Al-Isharah fi Ma'rifat Manazil al-Sab' al-Sayyarah.Murshid al-Khasa'is wa Mubdi al-Naqa'is fi al-Thuqala' wa al-Hamqa wa Ghayr Dhalik, published with an investigation by Dr. Hamad ibn Nasir Al-Dakhil.
  • An index of Tabaqat al-Hanabila by Ibn Rajab, arranged alphabetically.Bughyat al-Hasib.
  • A short treatise on the biography of Yusuf ibn Abd al-Muhsin al-Badri al-Wa'ili, one of the notables of Kuwait.

Death

The historian Uthman ibn Bishr died on 19 Jumada al-Thani 1290 AH in his hometown of Jalajil. His descendants continue to live in the city of Buraidah in Qassim Province, as well as in Al-Asha and Al-Zubair.

Legacy

The house of the historian Uthman ibn Bishr is classified as one of the archaeological and heritage houses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is located in the city of Jalajil, in the Sudair region. The house is situated in the Al-Dirah neighborhood within the old city wall. The building is distinguished by its "recessed geometric shapes in the form of bands and arches executed in plaster." The ceiling of the main council room is made of wood and palm fronds. To the west of the majlis wall, a door leads to a small courtyard with two rooms, which were likely used for storage or for cooling water.