Books on the life and character of countless people have been written and will be written. There are some amongst them who are renowned for being great warriors or exceptionally valiant or prominent philanthropists or well-wishers of the nation or they served humanity magnanimously. There are many who became notorious for their scandalous evil character and had their biographies composed. There are, of course, some who made a name in religion and spirituality and the profiles of their lives were collected and published. Likewise, several books have been written on the life and character of the founder of Islām, Ḥaḍrat Muḥammad Muṣṭafā, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him. Unfortunately, there are some such publications as well in which fallacious statements have been made under the influence of biblical legends. The book in view, ‘The Life and Character of The Seal of Prophets, May peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him,’ is the writing of Ḥaḍrat Ṣāḥibzādah Mirzā Bashīr Aḥmad Ṣāḥibra. It not only highlights the various aspects of the life and character of the Holy Prophetsa founded on the Holy Qur’ān and the Aḥādīth (Sayings of the Holy Prophetsa) with references particularly from the six authentic Editions of Aḥādīth and history; Moreover, it presents the prominent events and episodes in the history of Islām with solid historical testimonies. Some prejudiced orientalists and historians have misrepresented various incidents from the history of Islām in an attempt to tarnish the character of the Holy Prophetsa. Ḥaḍrat Mirzā Bashīr Aḥmadra has refuted those allegations vehemently in this book.
Moreover, in addition to a formidable rebuttal of the objections of the orientalists, the book covers a detailed review of the scholarly dilemmas, as for example, the assemblage and the layout of the Holy Qur’ān, Divine revelation, reality of miracles, polygamy, Islām and slavery, striving with sword, capitation tax, the holy wives, toleration of non Muslims, the Islāmic laws regarding marriage and divorce, the electoral system for ‘Khilāfat’ (succession) and the just and democratic form of Islāmic government, etcetera. However, Ḥaḍrat Mīāń Ṣāḥibra was only able to complete this treatise up to the sixth year of migration but his lucid, persuasive and convincing style is so alluring that a person is immensely bound to accept the glory and elegance of Islām and the Holy Prophetsa.
For those residing in the West and especially the youngsters of this hemisphere it was imperative that this book be translated into English, published and circulated abundantly. With the permission of Ḥaḍrat Khalīfatul-Masīḥ Vaba, Ayyāz Maḥmood Khan, a student of Jāmi‘ah Aḥmadiyya Canada (and now U.K.), started translating this book from Urdu into English and has completed its First Volume. Under the directive of Ḥaḍrat Mirzā Masroor Aḥmad, Khalīfatul-Masīḥ Vaba this book was initially serialised in the Review of Religions starting from December 2010 Edition onwards.
We are also grateful to the following who rendered valuable services in the preparation of this volume: Munawar Aḥmad Saeed, Fareeha Hāroon Virk, Azam Sher Khān, Rizwān Ḥameed Khān, Ḥammād Aḥmad, Naveed Iqbāl and Faiṣal Maḥmood Khān. This translation was checked and corrected by Dr. Iftikhār Aḥmad Ayāz, OBE. The references were checked with the help of Research Cell, Rabwah.
May Allāh the Almighty give the best of rewards and grant abundant blessings, both in this world and in the hereafter, to all those who have assisted in one way or another, in the preparation of this volume.
Everyone should not only study this fascinating book but publicise it prolifically and present it as a gift to friends and dear ones so that the beauties of the exemplary character of the Holy Prophetsa are exposed to the world and the superiority of Islām established; O Allāh, may it be so. Āmīn!
Humbly,
Munīr-ud-Dīn Shams
Additional Vakīlut-Taṣnīf
June 2011