'Ubayd bin Shari'a al-Jurhami (Arabic: عبيد بن شرية الجرهمي, died 686) also known as 'Ubayd bin Suriyah was an early Arab historian who lived during the rule of the Umayyad Caliphate in the 7th century CE. He specialized in Yemeni history. Some narrations from him are present in The Book of Crowns on the Kings of Himyar, a semi-legendary book about the rulers of the Himyarite Kingdom.
Life The birth date of 'Ubayd bin Shari'a al-Jurhami is unknown. However, he was a contemporary of Muawiyah and also met him in the year 660.Kitab al-muammarin min al-Arab wa taraf minakhbaruhum wa-ma qaluhfi muntaha amaruhum by Abu Hatim al-Sijistani, page 39 He died in 686 during the rule of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, the fourth Umayyad Caliph. His age is disputed upon amongst historians; 'Ubayd told Muawiyah that he was 240 years old, something which the latter refused to believe,Kitab al-muammarin min al-Arab wa taraf minakhbaruhum wa-ma qaluhfi muntaha amaruhum by Abu Hatim al-Sijistani, page 39 while 'Ubayd himself has also said that he is 150 years old in some of his works.Akhbar 'Ubayd bin Shari'a, page 313 Another narrative also states that he lived for at least three hundred years. Zarif Marzouk denied the ages stated in the narratives, and came to the conclusion that 'Ubayd died much lesser than what had been stated previously.
Historicity Existence Some scholars have disputed whether 'Ubayd bin Shari'a was a real person. Qarunqu denied his existence, and instead concluded that he was a character invented by the historian Ibn al-Nadim, the author of the Fihrist.Al-Tarikh al-Arabiya wa Masadiruh by Amin Madani, Volume 2, page 374 Authenticity Hamilton Gebb mentioned that 'Ubayd did provide the Arabs with early historical information that lacked historical senses.Studies in Islamic Civilization by Hamilton Gebb, pages 144 to 145 Jawad Ali, on the other hand, accused 'Ubayd of taking stories from Arabian Jewish tales and folklore.Jawad Ali, Mufassal fi Tarikh al-Arab, volume 1, page 83
Abdul Aziz al-Douri regarded any narrations of 'Ubayd as mere folktales and poetic imaginary stories of Yemeni history.Tarikh al-Tarikh 'aynd al-Arab by Abdul Aziz al-Douri, page 17 Works The book Kitab al-Muluk wa al-Akhbar al-Madhi was attributed to 'Ubayd bin Shari'a, and a more recent copy was first printed in Hyderabad in 1928, while another older copy still exists in the British Museum.Al-Tarikh wa al-Muarikhun al-Arab, Volume 1, page 126, footnote 578 This book, however, is disputed in terms of its authenticity.Zuhur al-Tadwin al-Tarikhii 'aind al-Arab by Hussein Nassar, pages 24 to 25 See also Wahb ibn Munabbih Al-Tabari Ibn Kathir References