"Seerat un Nabi" by Imad ud Din Ibn e Kathir, a set of 3 volumes, is a comprehensive biography of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) written by the renowned Islamic scholar and historian, Imam Imad ud Din Ibn Kathir. It is considered one of the most important and famous biographies of the Prophet.
Here's a detailed description of this work:
Book Description:
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Historical Significance:
- This biography is a crucial source for understanding the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
- Ibn Kathir relies on authentic sources, including the Quran, the Sunnah (Prophet's traditions), Ibn Ishaq's biography, and other historical sources.
- Ibn Kathir is known for his precise scholarly approach, analyzing and scrutinizing narrations, mentioning chains of narrators (isnad), and comparing different accounts.
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Book Content:
- The biography covers the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from his birth to his death.
- It includes details about his lineage, childhood, marriage, prophethood, migration to Medina (Hijra), battles, treaties, sermons, and letters.
- The biography also contains valuable information about Arabian society in the pre-Islamic period, the circumstances of Islam's emergence, and the development of the Islamic call.
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Writing Style:
- The biography is characterized by its clear and detailed narrative style.
- It relies on sequential narrations, often citing their sources.
- The biography also includes some poetry from that period.
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Importance of the Book:
- The biography is a primary reference for Muslims and non-Muslims who wish to understand the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the history of Islam's emergence.
- The biography is used in Islamic, historical, and literary studies.
- It contains very detailed information from that time period.
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Ibn Kathir:
- He is Imad ud Din Abu al-Fida Ismail bin Umar bin Kathir al-Qurashi al-Dimashqi, an Islamic scholar, historian, and exegete from Damascus, who lived in the 8th century Hijri.
- He is famous for his commentary on the Quran (Tafsir Ibn Kathir), his biography of the Prophet, and his book "Al-Bidayah wa'l-Nihayah" (The Beginning and the End).
