The second part of Akhbar al-a'yan was devoted to the genealogies of the feudal families of Mount Lebanon, with each family entitled to a chapter and grouped into three categories: Muslims, Maronites and Druze—the originally Muslim and Druze Shihab and Abi'l-Lama families, at least parts of which converted to Christianity, were grouped with the Maronites. The third and longest part of Akhbar al-a'yan dealt with the dynastic and feudal rulers of Mount Lebanon, beginning with the Mardaite rulers of the northern parts of the mountain before proceeding in separate chapters, not in chronological order, with the rule of the Buhturids of the Gharb, the Ma'nids of the Chouf, the Assafs of Keserwan, the Sayfas of Akkar, the Shihabs, the Abi'l-Lamas and the Arslans of the Gharb.