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wt SIRAT IBN HISHAM BIOGRAPHY OF THE PROPHET <% SERAT IBN'HISHAM Brograplly of the Prophet sliiig gal dysct Abridged by: “Abdus-Salam M. Haran AL-FALAH FOUNDATION For Translation, Publication & Distribution, © AL-FALAH FOUNDATION FOR TRANSLATION, PUBLICATION & DISTRIBUTION 1421/2000, All rights reserved. No pari of this publication may be reproduced. stored ina retrieval system, or transmilted in any fori or by any. mieans, electronic, mechanical, photocopying. recording er otherwise, without the rior pertnission of the copytight owner, Views expressed hy different ambors of books and studies published by AL-Fulah Foundation do not necessarily represent the views of Al-Falah Foundation. The iranskition of the meaning of the Qur'anie verses quoted in the text is taken from Dr Muhammad Tajud-Din ALHIIAT and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khiin’s Inerpreiation of the Meaning uf the Noble Qur'an. ‘Translated by Ins A. Farid Revised by Muhammad M.” Abdul-Fattab Edited by Umm Faroy Cook Cover desiyaed by Xodijah Garrett Published by: AL-FALAH FOUNDATION FOR TRANS! ATION, PUBLICATION & DISTRIBUTION 24 At-Tayaran st., Nasr City, Cairo. Egypt Tel, & Jax: 2622838 E-mail: falab@intouch com Preface Throughout history, the World his never witnessed an ideal character like that of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), This faet is maintained in the Glorious Qur'an, when Allah, Most High, says, 4 Ye have indleed in the Messenger of Allilt an exceltent exampler for him who hopes in Allah and the Final Day, and who remembers Allah meh (Al-Abzab: 21) ‘Therefore, it is the duty of every, Muslim to study aad reflect on the Sirah of the Prophet (pbuh), se as to gain success in this world and prosperity in the world to come. In this contex!, Az-Zuhari said, “In studying the battles of she Prophet (pbuh). lies the knowledge of this world aswell as that of the Hereafter.” Thus, it gives us great pleasure to present this valuable book to our beloveil readers, At the same lime, We fel indebled (9 theabridger’s family for giving us the chance to present ‘his priceless: work t our English-speaking teaiers, Also, we axk Allsh (0 abundantly reward both the author, ibn Hishiim, and the absidgcr, “Abdus-Salim M. Hiirin, and bestow His metey upon their souls, Hinally, all praise and thanks are duc te Allah, without Whose help and guidance nothing can be secomplished. Al-Falah Director Muhammad Abdou Contents Introduction 0.0... Vil |- THE PROPHET AND THE ARABIAN PENINSULA BEFORE THE MISSION ........... “ mevorncone fl Il- THE MISSION AND DA’WAH TO ISLAM UNTIL THE EMIGRATION lll- THE GENERAL EMIGRATION .... IV- THE PILLARS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY ...... 105 V- THE BLESSED STRUGGLE .. 117 Vi- A NEW STAGE ... 197 Vil- THE END OF THE BLESSED JOURNEY IN THE WORLDLY LIFE cent seem e Li] Indexes ..... 297 Glossary ..... Transliteration... Introduction History and Biography ‘The history of the Pre-Isianic Arabs was known only by meuns of nartation, Ambic history evea before the advent of Islam reflected the nature of their lifestyle. It showed their price in their fathers and forefathers. heroism, generusiiy, loyalty, stories of anvesiry and alliances. There were also nurratives about the history of the Ka'bal, the emergence of the well of Zameuri, the news.of the tribe of Juihum and levders of Quraysh, and the Ma‘rib Dam whose collapse caused people to disperse in the land. There were also stories of diviners and their citations. Thus, history portrayed their soeio-politieal and religious aspects OF lite, Islam appeared at the time-when people were accustomed to report all these stories and events With the beginning of the Message, preceded by porients of prophethood, the early Life and up-bringing of the Prophet (pbuh), the Revelation anc relevant evenis and attitudes of the Prophet's Companions and enemies, tte Propher’s behavior and relations with ‘Muslims, disbeliovers, Christians, and Jews, there emerged! a profific and broad subject-matter of information and tidings which were also circulated through narration. Moreover, the Qur'an, the Indlith, and the words of Companions, constituted a rich vecord of that new life. While the Qur'an was being written down, ihe hadith remained « trusted series of narfation. In general no one had the courage to think of writing the hadith 45a response to the Prophet's saying, Do not quate me thy writing) for anything except the Quran, and whoever has quoted me (by weising) for anything dither tian the Qur'an should omit it.” The wiscom behind this wi is: it aimed at avoiding confusion between the Revelation and the Prophet's words during the time of Reveletion. Undoubteilly, it was a temporary mater lasting until the whole (Qur'an had been revealed, ‘When "Umar ibm “Abdel- Aziz ruled (from 99 10 101 AH), he spent forty days performing Isnkhdrah prayers asking Allah whether he should write down hadith or not. He continued until he felt Allad’s eipproval. He then asked AbO Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn “Umar ibn Hazm (d. [20 AH), the ruler (of Madinah at that time, to write down the adit. He wrote down the hadiths he had memorized in a book, which was sent to the provinces, “Umar ibn “AbdelAzia also asked Muhammad ibn Muslim ihn. Snibib Az-Zabti, the teacher of Malik. to write down hadith, and the latter did so in dook form. Afterwards, Muslims continued to write down whatever they knew of the Prophet's Aadishs without keeping lo § particular form of sectioning or classification. For instance, while some set aside chapters on lave, others began to chassify hadith into chapters on the Prophers bith until the Revelation, chapters on his state in’ Makkah, his proclamation to the Quraysh, who then persecuted him end his followers as well as information ‘on wars and mattets of Jihad, Historians begen to write general history books including the life of the Prophet (pbuh), thus satisfying their religious inclination to perceive him as aan ideal model and guidance for Muslims, Biographers ‘The first Prophetic biographers were: “Uswah ibn az-Zubayr iba AL Awswilim (@. 92 AH), Abin ibn “Uthmin (d. 105 AED, Wahb iba Munabbah (d. 110 AH), Sharhabil ibn Sa'd (4 123 AH), thn Shih aar-Lati (dl, 124A), end “Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr iba Hazm (d. 135 AH), All their books perished! with the exception ef some parts which were seattered throughout main references on history like At-Tabari’s hook of history. Only a piece of Wahb iba Munahbub's book is currently stored in Heidelburg in Germany, Affer this came another generation of biographers, the most renowned of which were Miisd iba “Lighah (d 141 AH), Mu‘ammar ibn Rashid (4, 150. AB), and Mul ton INbfq G@. 152A). This generation was followed by Ziyédl al-Bukati (183 AH). AINVagiei the author of AFMaghizt (d. 207 AH), Thn Hishita (d 218 AUD), and Muhammad ibn Sa'd the author of At-Tabagat (4.230 AH). ‘The Biography by Ibn Ishaq Of all the above mentioned early biographers, the biography written by Ibn Ishaq’? was the mest renowned and highly documented, He wrote in the early Abbasid period. ft was Said thar Ibn Isbfq_ visited Al-Mansdr in Baghdad clong with his son, Al-Mahdi. Al-Mansir said to him, “Do you iknow who this man is, thn [shiq?" thn Ishiiq replied. “Yes. he is your son, Commander of the Believers." He said, “Go, and write a book for him on the ereation of Allah Since Adan up to this day.” Iba Ishig did as he was told. Then Al-Mansér suid to hin, "You have made it so big Ibn Ishq. 20 and stimmiarize it”, He did and the book was sticlved in the treasury of the Commander of the Believers. Afier half a century, Tbn Hishim® rewrote this biography through one person, Ziyad AFBuka’i), Ibn Ishaq’s book, which he wrote, was not in the form that it has today. This is because Ibn Hishim examined thn Ishiag’s diogtuphy of the Prophet (pbul) by editing, abridging, making auditions, an. sometimes criticizing and objecting throug the narrations af other soholars, He even utilized part of his methodology of narration, al-Miiant l-Qiayshi, the Fate of Quy fom Makramah ie al Mali iuy°Abd Munif, His grande, Yai was aypive of Ay at Tart town Wes of Kua on the cige of desert 1 vans conquer by Mus {irs ding the vet of AbU Rar in LY AM Staying in Matin. ys grurddan Muraniel was tem in $8 AN Mahumnwed speot his carly youth ta Madina Then he Ren vaveing and he ‘weit to Alesandes in (18 AH where he wrote about some Egyptian. Aflerwards traveled 10 trany Islamic couairies such as Kulu, Aldairah, APRayy, AbDay'ah ant Baghead wire be ‘il im L512 ATL bo." Aiyy sai aout Hom,“ ws eat vie of RE ba a aver dt the Senge ttemi to hooks Which incladed re mlnary campaigns of the Messenger All Tis Message. aa the ogi ng of eeanion ‘Mim "Abul-HIli sn Hishm fyb a-Himyact Way rave in AP Saga The ‘he want ao Egypt where he rit Unrn ASb-ShAET and recited many AVabte eats. In oCAivon te ung Um Io's ows. Nn Sta tore a BOO OF ee nese ane kingship of Hiya, fn thite Work was aa exp maha face Arab poems Hei in AL-PuNd rm 218 AM. 23 He is he Udi At: Muhsmnai Zip a” AbMeL-Ml i a Tuy] al-BURAT I” Ami a KON NLBnkd’Y surfed to Band HuAd of Bani “Aric Br $a"ya'sh. Ziv went ec Bagdad ‘Wher he po so iia carapares refening to Ret Wie ard other obgoti¢ns refering to ‘Muhvmins! ie Scie ARe-wards, he retumed to Kua weere he isd in 188 HD during she rl ‘of Hii ae-Rsstid. Hon His paid special weverence 10 at sheih, ase sad inthe foreward ‘at hie Kop, “Tired come thie which are repulsive Jo he merit sau Bim. sora Te _minhopsd by sore pepe wu sre not adnitod by AU-BuLA" 0 be narrated ~ ~<a ‘There is no doubt that Thm Hishdra was honest and that he conformed in his citation of Ibn Iybiq's book. He never changed or added a word of fn Ishig unless he was explaining or refuting’a narration. when he would refer {0 4 modification by stating “Iba Hishin His main purpose of citing thn Ishéq's biography was to mike an aabridament, He deleted all that bad been mentioned before the history of sméll the son of Ibcahim (peace be upon them both) as well as stories ancl information of Ismél's sens: which. in his opinion, did not serve tie Prophet's (phi) biography. Ue also eliminaled uli the long controversial poems. If anyone compared the originil text of Ibn Isbiig and hn Hishan’s ‘narration, he would find that he was very careful aad ulterly honest, whien were chitucteristies of the Muslim scholars of that time, ‘The Status of Ibn Hisham's Biography of the Prophet (pbuh) Undoubiediy, thn Ishiq'’s book was and will continue 1 be a major reference for teuders of the Prophet's (pbuli) biography. No one plunged into the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbul) without referring to Thn Tsbfie's book as a major source of information, For 2 very long time the biography written by Ibn Ishig was known among scholars as the biography by Iba Hishim because Ibn Hishim narrated and edited it, To Khalgia said, “Iba Hishim is the one who compiled the biography of the Messenger of Alliuh (pbuh) ftom the battles and scories narrated by Iba Ishq and it is the biography in the people's mis, known 2s the biography by bn Hishdm.” This work was studied caretully by commentators. For instance, Abul-Qisim) “Abdur-Rahinén aas-Suhayli'") (d_ 581) presented an extensive annotation of the biography in his book, Ar-Rewd al-Ang After this AbG Dhatr al-Khushaynit cxamined the book the parts of it that were unclear. as well as providing some c explaining cism in 1 Abut-Cisuny “Abdur Raine ie” Abulty bw Abia iba Ashazh al-KhaitTamt ay Soha ce Aalst of Mg he suas hom im 508 AT Aodalds, Maliqah. He spear bree yrars in Mo- ce an ed hte fa $81 HI. 2. Aba Dhaty Nas allel Khuwsayh i Anil, fem a be ti ed in OD AT fn! ak Khshayn’, $32.60 HD, wos fom a ‘Qudi’ah: He was bien in $32 Alf anc