The Future For Islam

416 Pages·2013·16.72 MB·English

The Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization
OF THE
Ibn Kathir
Translated by Professor Trevor Le Gassick
Reviewed by Dr Muneer Fareed
G a r n e t
p U s L I s H I N G
'I&LIFE O F me PaopmM u m
v01um I1
Pubfid by
Garner Publishing Limited
8 Southern Court
Sourh Srreer
w i g
RG14QS
UK
Copyrighr @ 1998 The Cenrer for Muslim Contribution to Civilization
All rights reserved
No parr of this book may be reproduced in any form or by
any decrmnic or mechanical means, induding informarion
storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing
from the publisher, m p rb y a reviewer who may quore
brief pasages in r review
ISBN-13: 978-1-85964-143-9
ISBN-10: 1-85964-143-1
First Edition 1998
First Paperbadr Edirion ZOO0
Reprinted 2002,2004,2006
Bridsh Libl-ary Cadwing-in-Publica~ionD ata
A cadogue record for this bwk is adable from the British Library
Rinted in Lebanon
CONTENTS
Foreword ix
About this Series .x.i.
Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization: Board of Trustees XIII
Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization: Board xiv
Introduction by Muneer Fareed xv
Translator's Preface xxiv
Volume I1
Chaptec Concerning the migration ofthose Companions ofthe Projhet (W)w ho
escapedf rom perseation with their faith from Mecca to Abyssinia. 1
'Umar 6. ol-Kha~faabc cepts Islam. 19
AN ACCOUNTO F THE DISAGREEMENT OF THE QURAYTRSIBHES OF THE BAND
HASHIMA ND THE BANOC ABD AL-MUTTALIINB HELPING THE MESSENGEORF
GOD( SAAS). ALSO CONCERNING THEIR CONFINEMENT OF THEM IN THE
QUARTER OF ABO TALIB FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD AND THEIR WRITING AN EVIL,
BRAZEN DOCUMENT TO THAT EFFECT. AND THE SIGNS OF THE PROPHETHOOD
AND PROOFS OF THE TRUTH THAT BECAME EVIDENT REGARDING ALL THIS. 27
Those mho mocked. 32
AN ACCOUNTO F THE DETERMINATION OF ABO BAKR", THE TRUSTINTGO" ,
EMIGRATE TO ABYSSINIA. 41
The Story of A'sha b. Qays. 52
The Story of the contest with Rukana and how the Prophet (SAAS) showed
him a tree that he summoned and it came to him. 54
SECTIOCNO: NCERNINTHGE ISRA>, THE NIGHT JOURNEY, OF THE MESSENGER
OF GOD( SAAS) FROM MECCATO JERUSALEM, HIS ASCENT FROM THERE TO
HEAVEN, AND THE S~GNSH E SAW THERE. 61
SECTIONCO: NCERNINTGHE SPLITTING OF THE MOON IN THE TIME OF THE
PROPHE(TS AAS). 76
SECTION: THED EATH OF ABO TALIB, UNCLE OF THE MESSENGEORF GOD
(SAAS), AND THEREAFTER THAT OF KHADIJA, DAUGHTER OF KHUWAYLIDAN, D
THE WIFE, MAY GODB E PLEASED WITH HER, OF THE MESSENGEORF GOD
(SAAS). 81
SECTIONO:N HIS MARRIAGE AFTER THE DEATH OF KHADIJA, GODB LESS
HER, TO 'A'ISHA, DAUGHTER OF ABU BAKR,A ND TO SAWDA, DAUGHTER OF
ZAM'A,G ODB LESS THEM BOTH. 92
SECTION: ONH IS DEPARTURE TO THE PEOPLE OF TA'IF TO CALL THEM
TO ALMIGHTYG OD,A ND TO COME TO THE AID OF HIS FAITH; HOW THEY
REFUSED HIM THIS AND HE RETURNED TO MECCA. 99
SECTIONO:N T HE CALL OF THE MESSENGEORF GOD( SAAS) TO THE ARAB
TRIBES DURING THE PILGRIMAGE SEASONS TO HELP AND SWPORT HIM
vi THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
AGAINST THOSE PERSECUTING AND DENYING HIM. NONEO F THEM AGREED,
SINCE GODA LMIGHTYH AD RESERVED THAT GREAT HONOUR TO THE ANS~R
(THE "HELPERSO"R "PARTISANOSF" )M EDINAM, AY GODB E PLEASED WITH
THEM. 103
AN ACCOUNTF ROM SUWAYBD. SAMIT, THE A N S ~ R ~ . 116
The acceptance ef Islam by Iyar b. Mu'adh. 117
Chapter: The commencement of the acceptance ofIslam by the angr, the "Helpers"of
Medina, God bless them. 118
AN ACCOUNTO F THE SECOND MEETING AT AL-CAQPBA. 129
SECTIONT:H ATG IVES THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE SECOND
MEETING AT AL-'AQABA, THEIR NUMBER, ACCORDING TO IBNI SHA%
TOTALLING SEVENTY-THREE MEN AND TWO WOMEN. 140
Chapter: The beginning of emigrationf rom Mecca to Medina. 143
SECTIONO:N T HE CAUSE OF THE EMIGRATION OF THE MESSENGEORF GOD
(SAAS). 151
Chapter: The emigration ofthe Messenger of God ($AAS)from Mecca to Medina
accompanied by Abfi Bakr "the Trustjng", God be pleased with him. 154
The Story of Umm Ma'bad at-Khuzxciyya. 170
SECTIONO:N THE ENTRY OF THE MESSENGEORF GOD( SAAS) INTO
MEDINAA,N D WHERE HE ESTABLISHED THEREIN HIS DWELLING, COMPRISING
MATTERS RELATED THERETO. 176
THEE VENTS OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE HEGIRA: AN ACCOUNTO F THE MAJOR
EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS IN THE FIRST YEAR FOLLOWING THE EMIGRATION OF
THE MESSENGEORF GOD( SAAS). 189
SECTIONO:N THE ACCEPTANCE OF ISLAMBY 'ABD ALLAH B. SALAM,
MAY GODB E PLEASED WITH HIM. 194
AN ACCOUNTO F THE SERMON OF THE MESSENGEORF GOD( SAAS) THAT
DAY. 197
SECTIONO:N THE BUILDING OF THE HOLY MOSQUE DURING THE PERIOD OF
THE RESIDENCE OF THE MESSENGEORF GOD( SAAS) AT THE HOME OF ABO
AYYOB,M AY GODB E PLEASED WITH HIM. 200
Indications of the excellence of this noble morgue and this esaltedplace. 206
SECTIONO: N THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE
EMIGRANTASN D THE HELPERTSH ROUGH THE DOCUMENT HE HAD DRAWN
UP BETWEEN THEM. ON THE NATURE OF THAT BROTHERLY RELATIONSHIP HE
MADE BETWEEN THEM, AND ON THE FRIENDLY RELATIONS HE ESTABLISHED
WITH THE JEWS WHO WERE IN MEDINA. 212
SECTIOONN: THE ESTABLISHMENT BY THE MESSENGEORF GOD( SAAS) OF
A PACT OF BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN THE EMIGRANTASN D THE HELPERSSO
THAT THEY WOULD BE FRIENDS. 214
Chapter: On the death ofAbh Umama As'ad b. ZurZra. 218
CONTENTS vii
Chapter: On the birth of'Abd ANnh b. al-Zubayr in the month ofShamw~iln the year
when the emigration occurred.
Chapter: On the call to prayer and its legitimacy upon the arrival of the Prophet
(+MAS) in Medina.
Chapter: On the espedition ofHamza b. 'Abd al-Murtalib, may God be pleased
with him.
Chapter: On the expedition of'Ubayda b. al-Hnrith b. 'Abd al-Muttalib.
AN ACCOUNTO F WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE HEGIRA.
THE BOOK OF MILITARY EXPEDITIONS
AN ACCOUNTO F THE FIRST MILITARY EXPEDITION, THAT OF AL-ABW~',A LSO
CALLED WADDANA,N D THE FIRST OF THE DELEGATIONS SENT.
The espedition to BUD@,i n the neixhbourhood of RadwZ.
The expedition to al-'Ushoyro.
Thefirst espedition to Badr.
Chapter: On the expedition of'Abd Allah b. Jahsh that mas the causefor thegreat
engagement at Badr.
SECTION: CONCERNITNHGE CHANGE IN THE PRAYER DIRECTION IN 2 AH
BEFORE THE BATTLE OF BADR.
SECTION: ON THE INSTITUTION OF THl! FASTING MONTH OF RAMADANIN
2 AH, BEFORE THE BATTLE OF BADR.
The great bottle of Badr; the day ofthe FuryZn, the ds~erentiutionb etween good and evil,
the day the tmo hosts met.
The death ofAha l-Bakhtari b. Hisham.
Chapter: On the death of Umayya b. KhalaJ
The death ofA6J~a hl, God damn him!
How the Prophet (SAAS) replacedQatada's eye.
Another similar account.
AN ACCOUNTO F HOW THE HEADS OF THE UNBELIEVERS WERE THROWN INTO
THE WELL AT ~m BATTLE OF BADR.
The deaths of al-Ndr 6. al-Hdrith and 'Uybe 6. Abo Mucay!, God damn them!
AN ACCOUNTO F THE JOY OF THE NEGUSG, ODB LESS HIM, AT THE OUTCOME
OF THE BATTLE OF BADR.
Chapter: On the arrival of the news of those stricken at Badr to their families in Mecca.
The Names of rhore at Badr arranged alphabetically.
The letter elif
The letter bz".
The letter 22.
The letter t&".
The lenerjim.
The letter ha'.
THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Thc lenn kha'. 333
The lctter dhZ1. 333
The letter ra". 333
The lener z2y. 334
The letter sin. 334
Thr letter shin. 335
The letter$ad. 335
The letter d$. 336
The letter $8'. 336
The letter @. 336
The lettcr 'ayn. 336
The letter ghayn. 339
The l a rf 2. 339
The lttter gaJ 339
The lener kzJ 339
The letter mim. 340
The lettn niin. 341
The letter ha?. 341
The letter warn. 341
The lenerya?. 341
Those men horn by 'Runan: agnomma. 342
Chapter: On the excellence of those Muslims who werepresent at Bdr. 345
On the arrival of Zaynab, daughter of the Meuenger of God (&US), as an Emigrantfrom
Mecca to Medino a month after the battle of Badr in fufillmmt of the condition placed upon
her husband by the Prophet (WAS). 347
SECTIOVNE:R SESC OMPOSED ABOUT THE GLORIOUS BATTLE OF BADR. 352
SECTIOONN: THE EXPEDITION AGAINST THE BAN0 SULAYIMN THE SECOND
YEAR AFTER THE EMIGRATION OF THE PROPHE(TS AAS). 365
SECTIONO:N THE EXPEDITION AGAINST AL-SAW~QDIHNO A L-HIJJA THAT
YEAR, IT ALSO BEING KNOWN AS THE EXPEDITION TO QARQAARLA-KTAD R. 365
SECTIONO:N THE MARRIAGE OF CALI B. ABO TALIB, GODB E PLEASED WITH
HIM, TO HIS WIFE FATIMA, DAUGHTER OF THE MESSENGEORF GOD
(SAAS). 366
SECTIONRE: FERENCTEO A VARIETY OF EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN THE
YEAR 2 AH. 369
Glossary
Index
In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Mncrful
FOREWORD
THEi nterrelationship and interaction of human cultures and civilisations has
made the contributions of each the common heritage of men in all ages and all
places. Early MusIun scholars were able to communicate with their Western
counterparts through contacts made during the crusades; at Muslim universities
and centres of learning in Muslim Spain (al-Andalus, or Andalusia) and Sicily to
which many European students went for education; and at the universities and
centres of learning in Europe itself (such as Salerno, Padua, Montpellier, Paris,
and Oxford), where Islamic works were taught in Latin translations. Among the
Muslim scholars well-known in the centres of learning throughout the world
were al-Ri&i (Rhazes), Ibn Sin%( Avicenna), Ibn Rushd (Averroes), al Khwzrizmi
and Ihn Khaldiin. Muslim scholars such as these and others produced original
works in many fields. Many of them possessed encyclopaedic knowledge and
distinguished themselves in many disparate fields of knowledge.
In view of this, the Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization was estab-
lished in order to acquaint non-Muslims with the contributions Islam has given
to human civilisation as a whole. The Great Books of Islamic Civilization Project
attempts to cover the first 800 years of Islam, or what may be called Islam's
Classical Period. This project aims at making available in English a wide selection
of works representative of Islamic civilisation in all its diversity. It is made up
of translations of original Arabic works that were produced in the formative
centuries of Islam, and is meant to serve the needs of a potentially large reader-
ship. Not only the specialist and scholar, but the non-specialist with an interest
in Islam and its cultural heritage will be able to benefit from the series.
Together, the works should serve as a rich source for the study of the early periods
of Islamic thought.
In selecting the books for the series, the Center took into account all major
areas of Islamic intellectual pursuit that could be represented. Thus the series
includes works not only on better-known suhjects such as law, theology,
jurisprudence, history and politics, hut also on subjects such as literature, medi-
cine, astronomy, optics and geography. The specific criteria, used to select
individual books, were these: that a book should give a faithful and comprehensive
account of its field, and that it should be an authoritative source. The reader
thus has at his disposal virtually a whole library of informative and enlightening
works.
Each hook in the series has been translated by a qualified scholar and reviewed
by another expert. While the style of one translation will naturally differ from
x THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
another, the translators have endeavoured, to the extent it was possible, to make
the works accessible to the common reader. As a rule, the use of footnotes has
been kept to a minimum, though a more extensive use of them was necessitated
in some cases.
This series is presented in the hope that it will contribute to a greater under-
standing in the West of the cultural and intellectual heritage of Islam and will
therefore provide an important means towards greater understanding of today's
world.
May God Help Us!
Muhammad bin Hamad Al-Thani
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
ABOUT THIS SERIES
THISs eries of Arabic works, made available in English translation, represents an
outstanding selection of important Islamic studies in a variety of fields of know-
ledge. The works selected for inclusion in this series meet specific criteria. They
are recognized by Muslim scholars as being early and important in their fields, as
works whose importance is broadly recognized by international scholars, and as
having had a genuinely significant impact on the development of human culture.
Readers will therefore see that this series includes a variety of works in the
purely Islamic sciences, such as Qur'm, hadiih, theology, prophetic traditions
(sunna), and jurisprudence (jiqh). Also represented will be books by Muslim
scientists on medicine, astronomy, geography, physics, chemisny, horticulture,
and other fields.
The work of translating these texts has been entrusted to a group of pro-
fessors in the Islamic and Western worlds who are recognized authorities in their
fields. It has been deemed appropriate, in order to ensure accuracy and fluency,
that two persons, one with Arabic as his mother tongue and another with
English as his mother tongue, should participate together in the translation and
revision of each text.
This series is distinguished from other similar intercultural projects by its
distinctive objectives and methodology. These works will fill a genuine gap in
the library of human thought. They will prove extremely useful to all those with
an interest in Islamic culture, its interaction with Western thought, and its
impact on culture throughout the world. They will, it is hoped, fulfil an important
rBle in enhancing world understanding ata time when there is such evident and
urgent need for the development of peaceful coexistence.
This series is published by the Center for Muslim Contribution to
Civilization, which serves as a research centre under the patronage of H.H.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Amir of Qatar. It is directed by a Board of
Trustees chaired by H.E. Sheikh Muhammad bin Hamad d-Thani, the former
Minister of Education of Qatar. The Board is comprised of a group of
prominent scholars. These include H.E. Dr Abul-Wafa d-Taftazani*, Deputy
Rector of Cairo University, and Dr Yusuf al-Qaradhawi, Director of the Sira
and Sunna Research Center. At its inception the Center was directed by the late
Dr Muhammad Ibrahii Kazim, former Rector of Qatar University, who estab-
lished its initial objectives.
The Center was until recently directed by Dr Kamal Nagi, the Foreign Cultural
Relations Advisor of the Ministry of Education of Qatar. He was assisted by a
* Died 1994, may All& have mercy on him.