Othman Bin Bishr
Othman Bin Abdullah Bin Bishr (1795–1873) was a Saudi historian, writer, and scholar in astronomy and genealogy. He lived during the First and Second Saudi States and is considered one of the annalistic historians of the Najd region. He authored 'Onwan al-Majd fi Tarikh Najd ' (The Title of Glory in the History of Najd) in two volumes following this methodology.
Life of Othman Bin Bishr
Othman bin Bishr was born and raised in the town of Jalajil, one of the towns in the Sudair region, north of Najd. In his early years, he began learning the Quran and later studied various sciences under several scholars of Najd. He maintained a close relationship with the imams and scholars of the First and Second Saudi States, including Imam Faisal Bin Turki Bin Abdullah Al Saud. Ibn Bishr documented their correspondence and wrote about his visits to the gatherings hosted by Imam Faisal.
Works of Othman Bin Bishr
Othman Bin Bishr authored 'The Title of Glory in the History of Najd' in two volumes, one of the most significant books on the history of the Arabian Peninsula. In it, he documented events in Najd from 1745 to 1850 in chronological order. His book covers administrative, economic, political, religious, and military aspects, mentioning regional judges, and governors during the era of Saudi imams, their methods of governance, military campaigns, and approaches to education.
He also wrote several other works, including 'Suhail fi Zikr al-Khayl' (Suhail in the Mention of Horses), a book on horses; 'al-Ishara fi Ma'rifat Manazel al-Sabe' al-Sayara' (The Indication in Knowing the Stations of the Seven Planets), a book on astronomy; 'Bughyat al-Haseb' (The Aspiration of the Calculator), a treatise on arithmetic; and 'Murshid al-Khasa'es wa Mabda' al-Naqa'es fi al-Thakla' wal-Hamqa' (The Guide to Traits and the Origin of Deficiencies in Tedious and Foolish People), a fifteen-page handwritten manuscript discussing coffee gatherings and the presence of tedious individuals, addressing etiquette, rulings, and proverbs related to visits. He also dedicated part of the treatise to describing foolishness and recounting stories about fools. Additionally, he compiled Fahras Tabakat al-Hanabila li-Ibn Rajab' (The Index of the Hanbali Scholars Classes by Ibn Rajab).
Death of Othman Bin Bishr
Othman Bin Bishr passed away in the town of Jalajil.
Sources
King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah).
The Title of Glory in the History of Najd. Othman Bin Abdullah Bin Bishr. 1982.
Othman Bin Bishr: Violations and Interventions. Hamoud Bin Mutib Bin Afaysan. Al-Darah Journal, 2018.