The Prophet's Biography

Author's name: Ibn Hisham

The Biography of the Prophet by Ibn Hisham, or the Biography of Ibn Hisham, is a book on the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Islam. It is considered one of the most important books on the Prophet's biography and a primary source. It was written by Abu Muhammad Abd al-Malik ibn Hisham ibn Ayyub al-Himyari al-Basri, who died in 218 AH. He narrated it from Muhammad ibn Ishaq (d. 151 AH), after receiving permission to transmit it from Ziyad ibn Abd Allah al-Bakka'i (d. 183 AH). Ibn Hisham made some modifications to Ibn Ishaq's work, adding and deleting material, thus refining it. He removed many Isra'iliyyat (stories of Jewish origin) and fabricated poems, which led to the biography becoming known by Ibn Hisham's name. Scholars have paid close attention to it, and numerous commentaries and abridgments have been written on it.