Typology of Historical Sources in the Sublime Quran

Ali Bayat[1]
Seyed Rohollah Parhizkari[2]

Abstract

The variety and number of remained historical sources and works on past historical events make it possible to unveil events and explicate occurred changes and transformations. By and large, historical sources could be divided into five types of archaeological, visual-pictorial, oral, textual (in its literal sense), and book-based; based on their production throughout the timespan of human life. The fact that the sublime Quran, like other scriptures, has referred to historical events and issues enables us to take the verses related to historical issues into consideration, and then refer to different exegeses and historical books to see whether or not the historical data of the Quran could be documented by the mentioned resources, and if yes by which ones; regardless of the Quran being a book of revelation as it demands its own independent and special discussions. This exploratory piece of writing elucidates that only the first three sources have been cited by the Quran and there are probable reasons for this.