The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 48
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 48 to carelessness or a weak chain of narrators. Yet, they can be considered the true bearers of the Sīrat of the Holy Prophet sa. Nonetheless, for the resolution of various ancillary issues, the historical books in the above mentioned list of contents can also be utilised as supplementary assistance. Books of the Contemporaries Excluding the books mentioned above, other works of Sīrat and Islāmic history, irrespective of how beneficial and comprehensive they may be, cannot be deemed an original source in the field of Sīrat because their content has been derived from the above mentioned sources. Hence, these works can be used in support of a commentary, or for the purpose of facilitation, but not as a genuine source. In this written work also, wherever reference has been made to books from a comparatively latter age, the intent is merely to provide facilitation, so that instead of presenting miscellaneous references, one reference can suffice. However, a reference of this type is only presented with the satisfaction that its original is in actuality present in early manuscripts. Along with this, the books of contemporaries are also of great merit and worth, because a precious treasure has been gathered and composed with extreme diligence and zeal after the scrupulous study of original books of history and Ḥadīth. In various instances, it is found that an original book may have been lost, but due to the inclusion of a narration in the books of latter-day historians, that particular portion of the original work was safeguarded. In this manner, books written by latter-day historians, though at a limited level, can serve as an original source, provided they are reliable and authentic. In any case, the books of contemporary scholars written in the field of Sīrat and history are mentioned below: 1 Ar-Rauḍul-Anf ‘ Abdur-Raḥmān bin ‘Abdullāh Suhailī (508 A. H. – 581 A. H. ) This work is comprised of two volumes and has been written as a commentary to Sīrat Ibni Hishām. This is a tremendously reliable and authentic book. 2 Tārīkhul-Kāmil Ḥāfiẓ Ibni Athīr Al-Jazrī (555 A. H. – 630 A. H. ) This work is comprised of twelve comprehensive volumes and has predominantly been derived from Ṭabarī. It has been compiled in an