The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (Volume I)

Table of ContentsTitleCopyrightA Holy CommemorationAbout the AuthorPublishers’ NoteForewordPreface - Volume IMap of ArabiaCHAPTER 1 - Early Sources of Sīrat & Islāmic HistoryIntroductionPre-Islāmic Traditions and Poetic VersesThe Holy Qur’ānNarrative Sources of Islāmic HistoryMethodology of NarrationPrinciples of Riwāyat & DirāyatEarly Examples of DirāyatBrittle Facets of DirāyatNarrations Committed to WritingA Fundamental Distinction between the Narrations of Ḥadīth & SīratBooks on the Principles of ḤadīthPhraseology of ḤadīthAsmā’-ur-RijālBooks of ḤadīthDistinction between Sunnat and ḤadīthBooks of ExegesisEarly Books on Sīrat and HistoryA Brief Note on WāqidīBooks of the ContemporariesSummary of DiscussionsCHAPTER 2 - Arabia & its InhabitantsLocation and External BoundariesFormation and Land AreaTopographyClimateProduceTerritorial DivisionInhabitantsArabian Civilization Prior to the Advent of IslāmArabian Trade and CommerceEducation and Ancient PoetryCustoms and Tribal LifestyleStatus of WomenRituals and their VenerationAncient Religions of ArabiaCHAPTER 3 - Makkah, the Ka‘bah & the QuraishThe Father of Prophets – KhalīlullāhSettlement in Ḥijāz and the Population of MakkahIshmael – DhabīḥullāhA Rebuttal to Various Allegations Levelled Against Ishmael and HagarConstruction of the Ka‘bahKhalīl’s PrayersAnnouncement of ḤajjCustodianship of the Ka‘bahRepeated Re-construction of the Ka‘bahKiswat-e-Ka‘bahSanctity of the Ka‘bahResidential Construction in the Vicinity of the Ka‘bahThe QuraishThe Internal Branches of the QuraishQusaiyy bin KilābDivision of Offices in the Custodianship of the Ka‘bahDivision of Tribal AdministrationDārun-Nadwah‘Abdu ManāfHāshimUmaiyyah’s RivalryMuṭṭalib‘Abdul-MuṭṭalibSearch for the Fountain of Zamzam‘AbdullāhAṣḥābul-Fīl‘Abdullāh’s Marriage‘Abdullāh’s DemiseCHAPTER 4 - Early LifeAuspicious BirthFosterage and ChildhoodMother’s Guardianship and Travel to YathribHis Mother’s DemiseGuardianship of ‘Abdul-MuṭṭalibDemise of ‘Abdul-MuṭṭalibGuardianship of Abū ṬālibTravel to Syria and the Incident of Baḥīrā the MonkHas Islām been influenced by Christianity?Pasturing of Goats by MuḥammadGod’s Protection from EvilḤarb-e-FijārḤilful-FuḍūlHis Blessed AppearanceCommercial EngagementsMarriage to Ḥaḍrat KhadījahChildren of MuḥammadReconstruction of the Ka‘bahService of Zaid bin Ḥārithah‘Alī bin Abī Ṭālib taken into the Care of MuḥammadLuminosity of DawnCHAPTER 5 - A Glance at the Early LifeA Paucity of NarrationsIlliteracy of the Holy ProphetCircle of FriendsThe Prophet's Religion Prior to his CommissionThe Prophet's Virtues and MannersCHAPTER 6 - Commencement of ProphethoodRise of the SunFatrat-e-WaḥīCommencement of PreachingThe Message of IslāmThe First MuslimPioneersMethod of taking Bai‘at by the Holy ProphetInitial Concealment and the Conduct of the QuraishPillars of Islām in the Early EraCommencement of Public PreachingInvitation to KinsmenDār-e-Arqam – The First Centre for the Propagation of IslāmOpposition of the Quraish and its CausesChieftains among the InfidelsEnmity of the Quraish against Islām and its FounderFirst Delegation of the Quraish to Abū ṬālibSecond DelegationThird DelegationVerdict of the Quraish Regarding the MuslimsAn Illustration of Muslim SufferingAnguish Inflicted upon the Holy ProphetTeachings for the Muslims of Steadfastness to SufferingCHAPTER 7 - Days of StruggleMigration to AbyssiniaA Rumour of the Quraish’s Acceptance of Islām and the Return of Some Immigrants from AbyssiniaA Fabricated IncidentAn Unsuccessful Delegation of the Quraish to the Royal Court of the NegusDeparture of Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr with the Intention of MigrationAcceptance of ḤamzahAcceptance of ‘UmarA Meeting of the Holy Prophet with a Delegation of the QuraishGod-given Awe of the Holy ProphetAllegation of Acquiring Education from a Christian SlaveAllegation of being ChildlessProposal of Compromise by the QuraishAlliance of the Quraish and their Boycott of the MuslimsDeliverance of the Muslims from PersecutionMiracle of the Shaqqul-QamarDemise of Ḥaḍrat Khadījah and Abū ṬalibAdversity of the Holy Prophet IntensifiedMarriage of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah and Ḥaḍrat SaudahBrief Note on PolygamyCHAPTER 8 - Expansion of PreachingVisits to the TribesJourney to Ṭā’ifDelegation of Jinn before the Holy ProphetSpread of Islām in the Daus TribeMi‘rāj and Isrā’Ordainment of Five Daily PrayersDoes Islāmic Worship Overly Stress Upon Apparent Figure and Form?War between the Roman and Persian Empires and the Prophecy of the Holy ProphetPreaching Islām to the Tribes of ArabiaCHAPTER 9 - ExileYathrib and the People of YathribIslām in YathribFirst Bai‘at at ‘Aqabah – 12 NabawīPopularity of Islām in YathribSecond Bai‘at at ‘Aqabah – 13 NabawīMigration to YathribThe Prophet of God the Almighty in the Outfit of an ImmigrantCommencement of the Journey of Migration and the Pursuit of the QuraishJourney of Migration and the Pursuit of Surāqah bin MālikEnd of the Journey and the Completion of MigrationCHAPTER 10 - A Glance at the Makkan LifeStay in Makkah and the Nabawī and Hijrī YearsState of Divine RevelationCompilation of the Qur’ānMakkan ChaptersProphetic EvolutionPropogation of Islām in the Makkan EraAffect of the Quraish’s Persecution upon the MuslimsProphet’s Migration and its CausationEpilogueGlossary of Terms