Siratun
Nabi The Life of the Prophet Muhammad (Ibn Kathir)
Ibn
Kathir Ad-Damisishiqi 700-774 AH
Translated by Rafiq Abdur Rahman
Hardback 940 Pages
Published by Darul Ishaat, Pakistan, First Edition 2004
Please note that this
is not the same as the
Work Published in the UK in 4 Volumes , by Garnet Publishing entitled:
AL- SIRA AL- NABAWIYYA by IBN KATHIR Translated by Professor Trevor le Gassick Paper
Back Reviewed by Dr A Fareed / Dr.M Fareed
None can deny that the life-history of the
Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) is an imperative
need not only for the Muslims but for humanity at large. It is a necessity,
not only religious or Islamic, but also literary, moral and cultural. In
short, it is a necessity that meets our interests both in this world and in
the Hereafter.
This valuable work on the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and
Blessings of Allah upon him) by Imam Ibn Kathir hardly stands in need of
any introduction.
He was Hafidh Abul Fida Ismail ibn Abi Hafs Shihabuddin Omar ibn Kathir ibn
Daw ibn Kathir in Zar` the Quraishite – originally from Busra (Syria) –
and raised in Damascus. He followed the Shafi`ee school of thought. Ibn Kathir
was born in the year 701 AH in an area called Majdal, near Busra, west of
Damascus. His father died when he was only four years old and was taken in by
his brother and moved to Damascus in 706. Here, he learned from great scholars
such as Ibn Asakir, Ishaq ibn Yahya al-Amudi and the great Ibn Taymiyyah who
was extremely close to him. He also studied under various other sheikhs who
gave him permission in fiqh and Hadith. He made many academic contributions to
Islamic sciences. The following are amongst his most prominent:
- Tafseer of the Qur’an
- Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah: a history of
Muslims from Adam until Ibn Kathir’s time
- At-Takmeel: a book on the science of
Asmaaul Rijal (profiles of transmitters of Hadith)
- Jami`ul Masaneed: a book that collects the
Hadith from ten major books of Hadith
- The classes of Shafi`ee scholars: a list of
scholars following the Imam
- Extraction of the traditions of Tanbeeh (a
Shafi`ee book of jurisprudence)
- The commentary on al-Bukhari (which he did
not finish)
- The book of laws (again, he did not
complete it)
- The summary to the science of Hadith; a
synopsis to the introduction of Ibn Saah’s work
- Extraction of the traditions to the summary
of Ibn Hajib
- Musnad of the two sheikhs (Abu Bakr and
Umar)
- Biography of the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi
wa sallam
- The epistle of Jihad
Al-Hafiz Ibn hajar Al-Asqalani said,”Ibn
Kathir lost his sight just before his life ended. He died in Damascus in
774A.H. May Allah grant him Mercy and make him amongst the residents of Jannah
(Heavenly Garden)
A
Different Translation of this Work Published in the UK in 4 Volumes , by
Garnet Publishing is also Available entitled: AL- SIRA AL- NABAWIYYA by IBN
KATHIR Translated by Professor Trevor le Gassick Paper Back
Reviewed by Dr A Fareed / Dr.M Fareed