Even untrustworthy historical witnesses can yield useful information when read critically.

Evidence

Undoubtedly the most surprising aspect of the writings of the Young Man from Ar´evalo is the way that he entwines into his theological writings his personal reminiscences. And since these reminiscences are of his travels in search of Islamic learning almost all over Spain (see map 1), and since he often gives us accounts of his visits to his coreligionists, we have here a historical source potentially of some importance. But can we trust this witness? As has been established, no, we cannot. We will catch him telling us things that patently were not true. That means that we must read him and interpret him with close attention, but it does not justify our ignoring him altogether. — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 836

Categorization

• XREF: A methodology claim echoing how historians read any tendentious source—same discipline as reading colonial chronicles or commercial self-representation.