Siyar A'lam al-Nubala (Biographies of Noble Figures) 12 Volumes

Author: Imam Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi

One of the most important books of biographies, it includes the noble Prophetic biography and the biographies of the four caliphs. It also sheds light on the personalities of the Companions, making them appear clearer. Siyar A'lam al-Nubala is considered one of the most enjoyable biographical books for both readers and researchers. It is an abridgement of his massive book (Tarikh al-Islam), and he has other useful and beneficial books on biographies of men, such as: his massive book (Tarikh al-Islam), (Mizan al-I'tidal fi Naqd al-Rijal), and (Tadhkirat al-Huffaz), among others.

"Siyar A'lam al-Nubala" by Imam al-Dhahabi is a general biographical book organized by biographies according to death dates, starting from the Companions until the end of the seventh Hijri century. He dedicated the first and second parts to the Prophetic biography and the biographies of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, but he did not include them in his book "Siyar A'lam al-Nubala," instead referring to his book "Tarikh al-Islam." The copyist, Ibn Tufan, did not transcribe the first and second volumes, and the first part of "Siyar A'lam al-Nubala" begins with the biographies of the ten promised Paradise. The author organized his book into approximately forty classes, following the style of Islamic biographical books, with each class representing a complete generation. This is an important and great book, in which the author aims to provide a complete explanation of the subject's name, lineage, status, scientific value, birth, upbringing, knowledge, teachers, students, and dates of birth and death.