A Biography of the Prophet of Islam : In the Light of the Original Sources An Analytical Study (2 Volumes)

In ‘Early Sources for Prophet Muhammad’s Biography’, Dr. Muhammad Saeed Mitwally aims to prove that applying Western methods of critical analysis to the available Muslim sources can take us back to early, reliable information about the Prophet (sa).

Early Western biographies of the Prophet of Islam (sa) were largely based upon the Qur’an, as well as upon the late Muslim sources dating from the sixteenth century. After the publication of Goldziher’s Muhammedanische Studien in 1890, the reliability of Muslim sources became controversial. This stance was intensified by the publication of Schacht’s The Origins of Muhammadan Jurisprudence, in which he claimed that none of the Hadith literature is authentic. In this book, Dr. Muhammad Saeed Mitwally successfully challenges some of the problems raised by the pessimistic attitude.

Students of Hadith will find this study thought-provoking and informative.

It is vital for every single human being to study the life of the greatest man to have ever walked this earth, a man who changed the course of human history forever. No other individual has had such a lasting influence or impact in any sphere of human endeavor; be it history, culture, economics, social welfare, politics, diplomatic relations or warfare.

Today’s modern society owes a huge debt to Muhammad, the great Prophet of Islam. This brief, yet comprehensive, work covers all the main aspects of the life of the Messenger of Allah. It includes his noble qualities, his description, members of his family – such as his maternal uncles and aunts and wives, the slaves he freed, the scribes who recorded for him, his envoys who carried his Message to various kings and territories around the globe, those who proclaimed the Call to prayer, his Umrah and Hajj, his military expeditions, his manners, his miracles, his riding beasts, his weapons and the legal rulings that were unique to him.

Knowing about the Prophet Muhammad is compulsory for every Muslim. This work is an excellent primer and should be necessary reading in every Muslim home. This book is ideal as a teaching tool for Schools and Madrassahs everywhere.

The author, Imam an-Nawawi (d. 767H), was a leading personality of Islamic history. Born in Syria to a deeply religious family, he was renowned for his piety and love of Allah, the Most High. He authored many valuable works, in a variety of different sciences, which gained eminence throughout the Muslim world.

It is very important for anyone who wants to spread the message of Islam to study the life of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and discover how he undertook the mission of da‘wah, or calling to Islam. This book is a blueprint for da‘wah. From studying his biography we learn the lessons of patience and perseverance in the face of adversity and opposition, and the readiness to sacrifice everything for the cause of Islam. In this book, Dr. as-Sibâ‘ie shows us how the Prophet’s approach was gentle yet determined and clear-cut, with no compromise on basic issues. The author takes the most important events of the Messenger’s life, summarizes them in order to offer a brief overview, then outlines the lessons that we learn from these events. This is an excellent introduction both to the principles of da‘wah and to the seerah, the study of the life of the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him). It should be on the bookshelf of every Muslim who wants to call others to Allah. The Life of Prophet Muhammad: Highlights and Lessons has been translated into English by Nasiruddin al-Khattab.

The Night the Moon Split, by Ivanka Dimitrova, takes young readers on a journey through time, back to the days of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It describes one of his greatest miracles: the splitting of the moon. This remarkable event is related as a bedtime story told to a young Muslim boy. This story is an excellent choice for both read-aloud and independent readers. Recommended for ages 7-12.