Explore the Prophet's Biography
Classical, medieval, and modern accounts of the Seerah | Authoritative Sunni sources | Linked to Quranic revelation and hadith
Classical Canon
8 worksThe earliest formal seerah compilations from the first four centuries of Islam -- the source layer for everything that follows.
| Arabic | Work | Author | Read Free | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| سيرة رسول الله | Sirat Rasul Allah AR | Muhammad ibn Ishaq d. 150 AH | Source | — |
| السيرة النبوية لابن هشام | Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya (Sirat Ibn Hisham) AR | Abd al-Malik ibn Hisham al-Mu'afiri d. 218 AH | Source | — |
| كتاب المغازي | Kitab al-Maghazi AR | Muhammad ibn Umar al-Waqidi d. 207 AH | Source | — |
| كتاب الطبقات الكبير | Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir AR | Muhammad ibn Sa'd ibn Mani' (Katib al-Waqidi) d. 230 AH | Source | — |
| تاريخ الرسل والملوك | Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk (Seerah portions) AR | Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari d. 310 AH | Source | — |
| دلائل النبوة ومعرفة أحوال صاحب الشريعة | Dala'il al-Nubuwwa AR | Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn al-Husayn al-Bayhaqi d. 458 AH | Source | — |
| السيرة النبوية لابن كثير | Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya (Ibn Kathir) AR | Ismail ibn Kathir al-Qurashi al-Dimashqi d. 774 AH | Source | — |
| الشفا بتعريف حقوق المصطفى | Al-Shifa bi Ta'rif Huquq al-Mustafa AR | Qadi 'Iyad ibn Musa al-Yahsubi d. 544 AH | Source | — |
Medieval Synthesis
4 worksEncyclopedic seerah compilations from the medieval period (5th-12th century AH) -- synthesis, commentary, and devotional treatments.
| Arabic | Work | Author | Read Free | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| الروض الأنف في شرح السيرة النبوية لابن هشام | Al-Rawd al-Unuf AR | Abu al-Qasim Abd al-Rahman al-Suhayli d. 581 AH | Source | — |
| عيون الأثر في فنون المغازي والشمائل والسير | 'Uyun al-Athar AR | Fath al-Din Ibn Sayyid al-Nas al-Ishbili d. 734 AH | Source | — |
| سبل الهدى والرشاد في سيرة خير العباد | Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad AR | Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Salihi al-Shami d. 942 AH | Source | — |
| المواهب اللدنية بالمنح المحمدية | Al-Mawahib al-Laduniyya AR | Shihab al-Din Ahmad al-Qastallani d. 923 AH | Source | — |
Modern Free-License
5 worksContemporary biographies released for free distribution by their publishers -- accessible introductions and modern syntheses.
| Work | Author | Read Free | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Life of the Prophet Muhammad EN | Azzam & Gouverneur | Source | — |
| Biography of the Best Man in Creation EN | Hassan 'Ashmawy | Source | — |
| al-Istifa' min Seerat al-Mustafa EN | al-Omary | Source | — |
| Concise Biography of the Prophet EN | Haytham Sarhan | Source | — |
| Prophet Muhammad's Life (A Brief Account) EN | Khalid al-Hazmi | Source | — |
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