Sīrat and history is a third category in this regard. The primary objective of this category was to gather narrations relevant to the biography and life of the Holy Prophetsa, the battles of early Islām and early Islāmic history. However, as mentioned above, these narrations as a whole, are less authentic than those of Ḥadīth. The collectors in this field were primarily concerned with gathering as much material as possible pertinent to Sīrat and history, so that no information would be left out. Succeeding generations could then easily examine and filter this material on their own accord, under the guidance of the Holy Qur’ān and authentic Aḥādīth, which is no intricate undertaking. In this regard, the early written works, which include books on geography and Arab history, are listed below:
| 1 | Kitābul-Maghāzī | Imām Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī (224 A.H. – 310 A.H.) | In all probability, this book is the first written work about the life of the Holy Prophetsa and the early battles. Imām Zuhrī was among the Tābi‘īn and had the opportunity to see many companions of the Holy Prophetsa and to listen to their discourses. He was trustworthy and possessed a wide span of knowledge. However, regrettably, his book has been lost. Nonetheless, references to his work appear in various books and the verbal narrations of Imām Zuhrī also appear in many books and they are deemed tremendously reputable. |
| 2 | Al-Maghāzī | Mūsā bin ‘Aqabah (Died in 141 A.H.) | Mūsā bin ‘Aqabah was among the righteous pupils of Imām Zuhrī and also met with many companions of the Holy Prophetsa. He was an exceptionally vigilant writer who would verify and evaluate every reference before accepting it. In Ḥadīth, Imām Mālik was his pupil; however, unfortunately, his book has also been lost. |
| 3 | Sīrat Ibni Isḥāq | Muḥammad bin Isḥāq (Died in 151 A.H.) | Ibni Isḥāq was also one of the disciples of Imām Zuhrī and holds great esteem in the field of Sīrat. His book has been deemed a foundation in the field of Sīrat and Maghāzī. A majority of the historians after him have benefited from his foundation. Some have doubted his trustworthiness; however, this notion is incorrect. Since, his natural inclination was towards Sīrat, he does not fulfill the rigorous standard of Ḥadīth. It is for this very reason that Imām Bukharī did not accept his narrations in Ḥadīth, but did accept them in Sīrat without hesitation. His book is not readily available. Nonetheless, a better part of his work has been included in Sīrat Ibni Hishām, thus the original book is not required. |
| 4 | Sīrat Ibni Hishām | ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām (Died in 213 A.H.) | He is a historian of great eminence and has been deemed worthy of reliance. His Sīrat, which is predominantly based on Sīrat Ibni Isḥāq, is exceptionally comprehensive and complete. Among the books of Sīrat, his work is accepted and renowned above all others. |
| 5 | Kitābus-Sīrat wa Kitābul-Maghāzī | Muḥammad bin ‘Umar Al-Wāqidī (130 A.H. – 207 A.H.) | This person was a historian who possessed a wide span of information. Since he was not one to differentiate between truth and falsehood, and authentic and weak, to most research scholars, his written works are not reliable and authentic. A separate note relevant to his shall be presented ahead. |
| 6 | Ṭabaqāt-e-Kabīr | Muḥammad bin Sa‘d (168 A.H. – 230 A.H.) | Ibni Sa‘d was among the distinctive disciples of Wāqidī and also served as his secretary. However, despite this relationship, he himself has been deemed trustworthy and reliable. His book is based on 12 volumes which comprise a remarkably comprehensive treasure of knowledge. The first two volumes are about the life of the Holy Prophetsa and the rest deal with his companions. If the narrations of Wāqidī are put aside, this book is excellent and authentic. |
| 7 | Tārīkhul-Umam wal-Mulūk | Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad Ibni Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī (224 A.H. – 310 A.H.) | This is not a work of Sīrat, rather a book of history. Since the biography of the Holy Prophetsa is also included, this work is categorized among the books of Sīrat as well. Ṭabarī was among the prominent and distinguished scholars of Islām and his work, spread over 12 volumes, has been deemed a remarkably comprehensive book of history. In addition to collecting the narrations of Ibni Isḥāq, Wāqidī and Ibni Sa‘d, he has also gathered and recorded many new narrations as well, and has left behind a superbly remarkable treasure in Sīrat and history. |
| 8 | Shamā’il-e-Tirmidhī | Abū ‘Īsā Muḥammad bin ‘Īsā Tirmidhī (209 A.H. – 279 A.H.) | Tirmidhī’s collection in Ḥadīth has already been mentioned in the section of Ḥadīth. However, he also wrote a separate treatise on the virtues of the Prophetsa which describes his blessed appearance, personal habits and customs in an excellent but brief manner. |
| 9 | Kitābul-Ma‘ārif | ‘Abdullāh bin Muslim bin Qutaibah (213 A.H. – 276 A.H.) | This book is comprised of Arabian history and general information about Islām, which also contains facts pertinent to the Holy Prophetsa and some of his distinct his companions. |
| 10 | Futūḥul-Buldān | Abū Ja‘far Aḥmad bin Yaḥyā bin Jābir Al-Balādhurī (Died in 279 A.H.) | This book relates the victories achieved at the hands of the Holy Prophetsa and his Caliphs. It is a well-renowned book and is currently in use. |
| 11 | Kitābul-Khirāj | Qāḍī Abū Yūsuf Ya‘qūb bin Ibrāhīm (Died in 182 A.H.) | Abū Yūsuf was a noteworthy jurist. He was among the distinct disciples of Imām Abū Ḥanīfah. This book elaborates the principles of the history of compulsory taxes levied by the Holy Prophetsa and his Caliphs upon conquered tribes. |
| 12 | Murūjudh-Dhahab | Abul-Ḥasan ‘Alī bin Ḥusain Mas‘ūdī (Died in 346) | This book commences with the historical facts of various nations and countries of the world and eventually presents an outlook on Arabian history. The work consists of Islāmic history up to the Caliphate of the Banū ‘Abbās. |
| 13 | Tārīkh-e-Makkah | Abul-Walīd Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Karīm Azraqī (Died in 223 A.H.) | An authentic work which comprises the early history of Makkah. |
| 14 | Ṣifatu Jazīratil-‘Arab | Abū Muḥammad Ḥasan bin Aḥmad bin Ya‘qūb Al-Hamdānī Al-Ma‘rūf bi ibn Ḥā’ik (Died in 334 A.H.) | An authentic work which comprises the early geography of Arabia. |
This historical treasure is, in essence, the true origin and source of the Sīrat of the Holy Prophetsa and early Islāmic history. Subsequent books are all a derivative of this primary source. However, as mentioned above, all these works are not books of Sīrat, nor are they books of history in the true sense of the word. Since the topics discussed in these books naturally coincide with the life of the Holy Prophetsa and the history of early Islām, these books have been included in the books of Sīrat listed above. As previously mentioned, there are only four early books existent today which are purely on Sīrat. These books are Sīrat Ibni Hishām, Kitābus-Sīrat wal-Maghāzī li Wāqidī, Tabaqāt Ibni Sa‘d and Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī. However, since Wāqidī is often reproached and rejected, practically, there remain only three main sources, namely: Ibni Hishām, Ibni Sa‘d and Ṭabarī. Undoubtedly, if the Holy Qur’ān and Ḥadīth are put to one side, the true foundation of Sīrat is laid on these 3 primary books.
1 Another work by this writer is also named ‘Iklīl’, which is comprised of 10 Volumes. In addition to details of the Ḥimyar tribe and the history of Yemen, it is based on other very valuable information as well. Refer to Kashfuẓ-Ẓunnūn, Volume 1, p. 144, Under “Iklīlu fī Ansābi Ḥimyar”, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon