The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 39
I - Early Sources of Sīrat & Islāmic History 39 mentioned below: 1 Tafsīr Ibni Jarīr (20 Volumes) Imām Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī (224 A. H. – 310 A. H. ) Among the quoted exegeses, this is the most comprehensive collection. However, weak narrations have also found way of inclusion in to this collection. 2 Tafsīr Ibni Kathīr (10 Volumes) Ḥāfiẓ ‘Imād-ud-Dīn Ismā‘īl bin ‘Umar Ibni Kathīr (700 A. H. – 774 A. H. ) This exegesis has been deemed extremely reputable and authentic. ‘ Allāmah Zarqānī claims that an exegesis of this calibre is yet to be produced. 3 Ad-Durarul-Manthūr fit-Tafsīr bil-Māthūr (6 Volumes) Sheikh Jalāl-ud-Dīn ‘Abdur-Raḥmān bin Abī Bakr As-Suyūṭī (849 A. H. – 911 A. H. ) This written work is of latter times and is comprised of both valuable and incon-sequential material. Early Books on Sīrat and History 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 Prophet sa , 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 Prophet sa and the early battles. Imām Zuhrī was among the Tābi‘īn and had the opportunity to