Sirat-Ibn-Hisham

342 Pages·2006·12.49 MB·English

SERAT IBN'HISHAM
Brograplly of the Prophet

sliiig gal dysct

Abridged by:
“Abdus-Salam M. Haran

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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

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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
Sharh as Sirah an-Nabawiyyah which was published by Dr, Bronolah,
Badrud-Din Mubummad ibn Ahmad alé Aynt presented in 805 Al a
commentary called Kash al-Lithdm fi Shark Sirar Jn Hishdin,

There were also. othets concerned about summarizing. including
Burhinuxl-Din Ibeahim thn Muhammad, knowa 2s Thnu!-Morhual ash-Shat't
who summarized the biography and added har which was lacking in 611
AH in a hook called Adh-Dhakhirah ff Mubhtasar ay-Siral, Abul- Abas:
Almad ibn Ibrahim ibn “Abder-Rahmar al-Wasiti, also summarized this
work in 7)] AH ina book entiled Muckiuagar Strut thn Hishdm. Moreover,
the biography of the Prophet (nbuy by Ton Hishim was composed into
verse form py AbQ Muhammad “Abdul“Aciz ibn Muhammad Seid
au-Dumayri ad-Dayrint who died in 663 AH. AbO Bakr Muhammad dbn
Ibrthim, known as Ibnush-Shahid (d. 793. AH) composed it into tens of
thousands of verses in Al-Fath al-Qartb ft Sirat Al. Habib,

Abridging the Prophet's (pbuh) Biography by Ibn Hishim
Early in my youl!” T avtempted several times to read this: venerable
work ftom beginning to end but I faited due to the disturbing digression in
writing rhat mate iL citesome. [read various passages dispersed throughout
. Which were like meadows in a desert, They attracted me because of the
beautiful expression and tte glory of theit aim.

Nevertheless, I felt, while reading the biography oF the Prophet (pbuh)
something of what | etjoy in reading the Quran or the Prophet's hadilss, of
sincere worship and devotion. A deep-seated motivation drove me to repeat
my endeavors to read the biography: my father was among those WHO wrote
about the Prophet's (pbuh) biography. He abridged it in 2 book ef thirty
chapters entitled —Talkhis. ad-Drits al-Awwaliywah fis-Sirah
al-Mulummadiyyah (A Summary of Preliminary Lessons in the
‘Muhammad's {pbuh} Biograpity), which was for a tong time the only hook
{osbe taught in the Sirah courses of the religious institutes in Feypt.

However, I was not capable of reading the whole book because, as 1
have mentioned, there is a disturbing digression in writing. The reader oF
Sirah encounters tong chapters of names of captives of the Battle of Badr,

1 AbarSalin be

i, the aigro ts budk,

~@
names of the borses of Mustims in this Baitle, a fist of the Muslims who
atiended! Badr from among the Qurayst and from the Angér. those who were
martyred on that day and so on of listings, prolix poems, lengthy lineage,
wordiness, and also including some Qui'anic commentaries which are
irrelevant to ihe core of Sirah, In addition, chains of authorities on which
Strah is based-were spelled out, which might be important only for scholars
ny

of crit

In this “absidgraent”, Tried to extract elements from the original work to
present it in a new form that is allowed! for uninterrupted reading, while
being careful about the original text so the reader could cite it. 1 did not
replace a letter of the original text so ay to be honest in performance. 1
referred 10 Ibn Hishim’s wordings in the beginning of tix: subject or in
Footnotes, but the whole text is of Thin Ishéq as narrated by Thn Hisham. 1
‘mentioned the chain of authorities only when it was indispensable for the
subjeet by quoting what had been reported by thn [shag or Ibn Hisham.

To make the text coherent, | interpreted what was needed of explanation,
relying on accredited Sirah commentaries and linguistic references,
kind of fuciliation for those who aire unable to read the
if und it-serves te link today’s youth to their heritage, AUlah willing,
‘you would be able to read this book in a few days and acquire an immediate
benefit. while reading the original, if possible, woul! take a few months,

1 ask Allab to anake this book useful, as it isa small contribution to

science, aiming for the satisfaction of Allah and that of the Prophet, prayers
and peace be upon him.

Misr al-Jadidah, Mid-Ramadan 1374 AH

“Rbdus-Sadim Manin