Manuscript of Najdi Chronicles

The Manuscript of Najdi Chronicles (Makhtutat al-Akhbar al-Najdiya) is a manuscript that documents the chronicles of Najd from 1446 to 1871, focusing particularly on the First and Second Saudi States and the events that took place between them.

The Manuscript of Najdi Chronicles was authored by Mohammed Bin Omar al-Wuhaibi al-Fakhri (1772–1861). He was born in the town of al-Tuwaim in the Sudair region, where he grew up and studied the Quran. In 1813, he moved to al-Ahsa and remained there until 1820, after which he returned to al-Tuwaim before later settling in Harmah. He was one of the literary figures of Najd.

His son, Abdullah, continued documenting the chronicles, covering the period from 1861 to 1871. Two copies of the manuscript exist: one transcribed by Abdulrahman Bin Mohammed Bin Nasser and the other by Mohammed Bin Hamad al-Omari.

The Manuscript of Najdi Chronicles documents the chronicles of Najd from 1446 to 1871 in the style of Hijri annals. The author relied on written sources and oral accounts, and in some cases, he was a direct eyewitness to the events he documented. His records are particularly detailed regarding the fall of the First Saudi State and the establishment of the Second Saudi State.

The author of the manuscript did not record events from certain years, particularly those preceding his birth. However, he documented every year from the first half of the twelfth century AH to its midpoint. As for the second half of the twelfth century AH, he recorded events from forty-three years, omitting the events of seven years.

The author's style is characterized by simplicity in language, conciseness, short sentences, a high density of information and reports within each sentence, and the use of colloquial terms.

The Manuscript of Najdi Chronicles covers political events, such as chronicles of the Saudi State, as well as economic and social events. It also records natural phenomena, including rain, winds, eclipses, and pandemics. Additionally, it documents the deaths of notable figures, including scholars, princes, and poets, as well as some members of the general public, particularly those who died in battles and wars. The manuscript provides a comprehensive account of various aspects of life.

Although the author attempted to cover the chronicles of Najd, he focused on certain towns, particularly Sudair, al-Muhammal, al-Shu‘aib, al-Arid, al-Washm, al-Kharj, al-Qassim, Hail, and ‘Aliyat Najd. The manuscript also includes chronicles on regions outside the Arabian Peninsula, such as Iraq, the Levant, and Egypt.