A HISTORIOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF STUDIES ON THE KHARIJITE MOVEMENT IN KHURASAN AND SISTAN IN THE EIGHTH AND EARLY NINTH CENTURIES (BASED ON THE SCHOLARLY LEGACY OF T. KADYROVA)

Abstract

This article examines T. Kadyrova’s scholarly interpretations of the Kharijite movement in Khurasan and Sistan during the eighth and early ninth centuries from a historiographical perspective. The primary focus is her monograph published in 1965, which addresses social and political movements in the region. Particular attention is paid to the origins, religious-political characteristics, and social foundations of the Kharijite movement. The relationship between the policies of the Arab Caliphate and expressions of resistance among local populations is explored. The regional characteristics and historical circumstances of Kharijite activities in Khurasan and Sistan are examined. The political significance and social dimensions of the movement led by Hamza ibn Adharak are analyzed separately. Kadyrova’s methodological interpretation of Kharijite uprisings as a form of social struggle is critically assessed. Her conclusions are compared with accounts preserved in medieval Arabic and Persian historical sources. Special emphasis is placed on the historical value of al-Tabari, Ibn al-Athir, and the Tarikh-i Sistan. The article considers the implications of Kharijite activities for the political stability of the Abbasid Caliphate. The influence of class-based interpretations characteristic of Soviet historiography is critically evaluated. The study highlights the significance of Kadyrova’s scholarly legacy for understanding the socio-political history of Khurasan and Sistan.