The Life of the Prophet Muḥammad: A Translation of Al-Sīra Al-Nabawiyya

Compiled in the 14th century AD by a prominent scholar from Damascus, al-Sira al-Nabawiyya by Ibn Kathir is a full examination of the background, life and mission of the Prophet Muhammad. Drawn from the earliest and most reliable sources, it is the fullest available account of the historical circumstances and personalities most important in the founding of Islam. It is a fine example of Islamic scholarship; all information is evaluated in terms of the source's reliability, variant wordings are carefully noted, and Ibn Kathir gives both his own assessments and those of the earliest Islamic authorities concerning the authenticity of these first records. The comments and conversations quoted in this work form the basic knowledge of Islam during the lifetime of its founder.