Why Secondary Sources Should not be Relied upon When Studying Historical Issues? - The Case of Dependence on Taqi al-Din Ibn Taymiyyah as a Model

Abstract

This article aims to shed light on the necessity of relying on primary sources when dealing with historical issues; as they are more truthful in representing and expressing the reality of events and narratives than secondary ones which were written at a later stage and thus might not be an identical reflection of the issues raised in previous eras. In addition, these secondary sources, with their selection, interpretation, and revision imposed by several justifications, whether scientific or social, lead to presenting an imagined historical awareness. Since the researcher in religious studies is a historian; he is obliged to rely on the oldest documents closest to the event under study. Taqi al-Din Ibn Taymiyya's reading of the history of the verbalization issue among the hadith scholars, which he cited in his book  Dar' Ta'arud al-`Aql wa al-Naql, was chosen as an example of avoiding relying on secondary sources in reading historical issues.