The Prophetic Biography

Author: Abu Abd al-Malik Ibn Hisham

Ibn Hisham's book "The Prophetic Biography" is considered one of the oldest books on the history of our master Muhammad, peace be upon him. It is the most famous work on the Sirah (Prophet's biography). Scholars have shown great interest in it, sometimes writing commentaries on it and sometimes abridging it, both in ancient and modern times. Ibn Hisham's book is an edited version of Ibn Ishaq's earlier work, of which only a small part has reached us, with most of it being lost. This is another aspect of its importance, as Ibn Hisham omitted what he found irrelevant or weak, and added to it where he deemed it appropriate. He included suitable poetry and the editors have explained some obscure passages, provided biographies of prominent figures, added headings to paragraphs, and supplied the book with scholarly indices.