The Beginning and the End is a huge historical encyclopedic work, written by Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir Ismail bin Omar Al-Dimashqi, who died in 774 AH.

It is a presentation of history from the beginning of creation to its end, beginning with the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth[?] and the angels to the creation of Adam, then it addresses the stories of the prophets briefly and then details the historical events since the resurrection of the Prophet Muhammad until the year 768 AH by tabulating the years. The year begins by saying, "Then a year entered..." Then he lists the historical events in it, then mentions the most prominent people who died in this year. As for the end part, it contains the signs of the hour until the day of reckoning in detail.