ذيل الأعلام ١/٤

ذيل الأعلام
تأليف: أحمد العلاونة
A common feature of Islamic literature is the ‘Dhayl’ – a book written as an extension and continuation of an earlier work of history or biographies. They cover those individuals who came after the author, or were contemporary to him, that fulfil the requirements of being included in his original work. Subsequently, a number of works have been authored as extensions to al-Zirikli’s Al-A’lam in this way. As Al-Zirikli’s original stops with individuals who died in 1396 AH, such a dhayl would be necessary for the biographies of those who died after that year.

One such work, in 5 volumes, is by Ahmad al-‘Alawinah, first published in 1418 AH. He was encouraged and given the general outline by Shaykh Zuhayr al-Shawish, a prominent publisher of Islamic literature who partook in the publishing of the original Al-A’lam itself.

This Dhayl also contains various other corrections, istidrakat and revisions to the original.

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