دراسة نقدية في كتاب صفحات من تاريخ الكويت للشيخ يوسف بن عيسى القناعي 1946 م

الملخص EN

This is a critical and analytic study, which deals with a book written by Yousuf bin ˁĪsa al-Qināˁī, entitled Safahaat min Tariikh al-Kuwait/1946 [Chapters from the History of Kuwait/1946].

This is considered the second book to document the history of Kuwait, which covers the period from the establishment of the Sheikhdom to the end of Shaikh Mubarak’s reign.

Among the topics covered are geography of Kuwait, as well as the social, economic, and anthropological aspects of the Kuwaiti society.

The book’s small yet intensified size did not at all affect its significant value on Kuwait’s history.

The aim of this study is to shed light on the historical context surrounding the writing of this book.

It provides an overview on the author’s biography and publications, indicating the sources, structure, and content.

It also highlights its strengths and weaknesses in its coverage of historical events.

This study also reveals al-Qināˁī’s methodology when describing historical facts as well as the printed and oral sources he consulted.

It compares his information with a preceding historian’s, Abdulaziz al-Reshaid, who wrote The History of Kuwait in 1926.

The study explores the material that does not appear in al-Reshaid’s book, like women’s status, superstitions, industries, clothing, business, and other topics.

This study reaches several conclusions, the most important of which is that Chapters from the History of Kuwait plays a central role in Kuwait’s historical narrative.

Yousuf bin ˁĪsa has originally published this book as a school textbook, thereby benefitting many generations.

In addition, those who write about Kuwait’s history usually adopt this work as a primary source.