Lesson 8: Non-Poetic Texts on the Seerah

Question 1

What is the purpose of non-poetic texts?

Answer 1

These are for the following types of people (generally)

1. Those who’ve already memorized texts (usually poetry) and want to broaden their knowledge
2. Those who are unable to memorise poems (although texts can also be memorised) but just want to have a strong understanding

the scholars write poetry to memorize, and non-poetry to understand

Question 2

Beginner level book to study on the Seerah and some information of it (chapters and the like aren’t as important but are optional)

Answer 2

أَوْجَزَ السِّيَرِ لِخَيْرِ الْبَشَرِ by the great scholar of the Arabic language Ahmed ibn Faris ibn Zakariyya ar Rāzi (ibn Faris of Mu’jam maqayees al lughah 395 AH)

it can be divided into 3

• events that took place before the sending of the messenger ﷺ (40 chapters). The author didn’t restrict himself in the book however, he’d mention things outside of the section such as things in the hijrah etc
• Events that are after prophethood (9 chapters)
• Events after hijrah until his ﷺ death (40+ chapters

Best Publications:

• ta’leeq of hilal dāji al baghdadi
• Muhammed Mahmūd Hamdād

Question 3

Intermediate level book to study on the Seerah and some information of it (chapters and the like aren’t as important but are optional)

Answer 3

نُورُ العُيُونِ فِي تَلْخِيصِ سِيرَةِ الأَمِينِ المَأْمُونِ By Ibn Sayyidin nās al ya’murī (734 AH)

• this is summarized from the book of his known as عُيُونُ الأَثَرِ فِي فُنُونِ المَغَازِي وَالشَّمَائِلِ وَالسِّيَرِ

the book (summary) is divided it into 3

• Events before the messenger ﷺ was sent out (19 chapters)
• Events after he ﷺ was sent (14 chapters)
• Events after the hijrah until the death of the messenger ﷺ (25 subheadings and 10 chapters)

Publications

• Darum minhāj 1425 AH (best one according to the ustadh)

Question 4

Advanced level book to study on the Seerah and some information of it (chapters and the like aren’t as important but are optional)

Answer 4

1. الإِشَارَةُ إِلَى سِيرَةِ المُصْطَفَى وَتَارِيخِ مَنْ بَعْدَهُ مِنَ الخُلَفَا by al hafidh an nāqit mughlatay (علاء الدين مغلطاي 762 AH)
   - it’s very beneficial, praise by many scholars. Imām al ‘Irāqi (alfiyyatus seerah) was taken from this book
   - Another scholars who wrote poetry from it is الشمس الباعوني الدمشقيّ (871 AH) called مِنْحَةُ اللَّبِيبِ فِي سِيرَةِ الحَبِيبِ
   - Al birmawi wrote benefits on it
   - Ash sharaf abul Fath did the same as birmawi

it is summarized by Al muarrikh Al fāsi in الجَوَاهِرُ السَّنِيَّةُ فِي السِّيرَةِ النَّبَوِيَّةِ

• ibn hajar as asqlani in fathul bari and others use this book as a reference

Publications of the book

• Best one is of the taba’ of Muhammed nadhām addīn al futayhi (محمد نظام الدين الفتيح) published by darul qalam 1416

Question 5

Benefits/Content of the Advanced Book to study ‘الإِشَارَةُ إِلَى سِيرَةِ المُصْطَفَى وَتَارِيخِ مَنْ بَعْدَهُ مِنَ الخُلَفَا by al hafidh an nāqit mughlatay (علاء الدين مغلطاي 762 AH)

Answer 5

• Mentions most important events
• mentions events by ‘isharah (pointing out) not going into detail
• Devoid of detail
• His prophecies, miracles, description of him ﷺ
• Family/houeehold of the messenger ﷺ
• Letters of the messenger ﷺ
• Items the messenger ﷺ used
• Summarised the rulers of the 4 caliphs until his time