I seek refuge in Allāh from Satan the Accursed. In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. [All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds. The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. Master of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour. Not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.1 O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness, And a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And one who invites to Allāh, by His permission, And an illuminating lamp.2 ﷺ The Life of Muhammad introduces the Makkan Period [and the Madīnan ﷺ The Life of Muhammad the final Messenger of ,ﷺ Period] of the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad Allāh and the greatest human being to walk on the face of the Earth. In this series, Imām Anwar Al-‘Awlaqī, author of the best-selling series The Life of the Prophets, eloquently presents the Makkan Period [and the Madīnan Period] of the Prophet’s life in a detailed manner, deriving valuable lessons from it and thus making it relevant to our modern times. The series is primarily based on Ibn Kathīr’s book on the Seerah. Imām Al-‘Awlaqī brings to life stories from the golden era of Islām in a dynamic style, and instils in the listeners a deep love for .ﷻ the beloved of Allāh 3 Author’s Autobiography Imām Anwar Al-‘Awlaqī was a Muslim scholar of Yemeni heritage who was born in New Mexico. Initially, he served as an Imām in California, and then later in Washington, D.C. where he headed the Dār Al-Hijrah Islamic Center and was also the Muslim Chaplain at George Washington University. In 2004, he returned to his native Yemen where he taught at the University of Eman, until his arrest in mid-2006. Imām Anwar was released from custody on 12th December 2007 having spent a year and a half in prison. In his first interview since his release, the Sheikh spoke about the conditions of his detention and shared his reflections on his time in prison. Regarding his time spent in prison, he said, “It was a chance to review Qur'ān and to study and read in a way that was impossible out of jail. My time in detention was a vacation from this world. I still see my detention as a blessing and I believe that I am still enjoying the fruits of those blessings until this moment.” On September 30, 2011, in northern Yemen’s al-Jawf province, two Predator drones fired Hellfire missiles at a vehicle containing Imām Anwar Al-‘Awlaqī, and thus the Sheikh attained Shahādah, Inshā'Allāh. May Allāh have mercy on him. Educational Background In response to a question posed on his blog, the Sheikh explained his credentials and whom he studied under. I have added this here and left the Sheikh’s words unaltered: Alhamdulillah I have had the chance to experience the various methods of gaining Islamic knowledge through studying directly under shuyukh in their general circles or privately. I have experienced the regular academic method of university study, studying by correspondence, “and studying directly from books. 4 Studying under shuyukh in their general circles I have attended the circles of the scholars of Makkah and Madina for a combined period of a few months and for a short while attended the circle of Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen. Studying under shuyukh privately In addition to an ijaza in Quran recitation according to the recitation of Hafs I have read and completed Sahih al Bukhari with Shaykh AbdulRahman Shumailah al Ahdal and he has given me ijazah to narrate Sahih al Bukhari from him through three high isnaads, one of them being the highest existing isnaad in the world. The other two he has received from his shuyukh in Makkah. I have also read and completed Sahih Muslim and al Muwata by Imam Malik with Shaykh AbdulRahman and he has given me ijazah on both books. I have studied al Minhaaj by Imaam Nawawi on Shafi fiqh with Shaykh AbdulRahman al Ahdal and Shaykh Hamud al Ahdal and received ijaza from both of them. The above mentioned shuyukh have also given me ijazah to narrate through their isnaad the six books of Hadith, al Adhkaar by Imaam Nawawi, al Shifa by Qadhi Iyaad, and some other books in Shafi fiqh. I have studied, traveled and lived with Shaykh Hassan al Ahdal and it was through him that I got to study with other scholars from this blessed family of scholars who are descendants of al Hussain bin Ali may Allah be pleased with them. They are based in al Marawa’ah in Tihama which is in the Western part of Yemen on the coast of the Red Sea and this is the land of the Sahabi Abu Musa al Ash’ari. He has given me a general ijaza in the six books of hadith, Buloogh al Maraam by Ibn Hajjar al Asqalani, Umdat al Ahkaam by al Maqdisi, al Minhaaj by al Nawawi, al Ghaya wal Taqreeb by Abu Shuja, and al Waraqaat by al Juwaini. I have spent a short time with Shaykh Salman al Odah. I have benefited considerably from the scholars I met in the US during the 90’s, a time in which there was a great influx of scholars in America. 5 And last but not least, I have benefited and continue to benefit from the Shaykh whom I trust his deen and know him to be a scholar who does not fear in the sake of Allah and is willing to stand up for the truth, Shaykh Hussein bin Mahfoodh. He is a friend whose relationship with me extends over the years. Until this day, I consult with him on the various important aspects of Sharia that I am presented with and I have continued to benefit from his knowledge and wisdom over the years. I have accompanied him and traveled with him and consider him to be one of the best scholars that I have come to know. Regular academic university study In 2002 I was given permission from the administration of the University of Eman in Yemen to attend any class at any level and I took advantage of this and attended classes in Tafsir and Fiqh for a period of a few months. I have also benefited from the teachings of Shaykh Abdul Majid al Zindani the Rector of the University. Studying Sharia by Correspondence I studied for two years through correspondence with the Islamic university in France. I lost interest and discontinued my studies with them because I reached the conclusion that it was not a proper method of disseminating Islamic knowledge. This was in the mid 90’s so things must have changed now in the field of correspondence study due to advances in technology. Studying from Books After receiving the basics from the scholars and the keys of knowledge, learning from books is a lifelong practice of the seeker of knowledge. My Ijazah In addition to the ijaza’s I have mentioned above I have a general ijaza in Quran, Sciences of Quran, Hadith, Sciences of Hadith, Tafsir, Fiqh, Usool Fiqh and Arabic from: Shaykh Hassan Maqbooli al Ahdal Shaykh Hussein bin Mahfoodh Shaykh AbdulRahman Shumailah al Ahdal Shaykh Hamud Shumailah al Ahdal ” 6 Arabic Symbols Used Symbol Arabic Text Translation May His glory be glorified ﺟل ﺟﻼﻟﮫ ﷻ May the peace and blessings of Allāh be ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﯾﮫ وﺳﻠم upon him ﻋﻠﯾﮫ اﻟﺳﻼم Peace be upon him رﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻧﮫ May Allāh be pleased with him رﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻧﮭﺎ May Allāh be pleased with her رﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻧﮭﻣﺎ May Allāh be pleased with them both رﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻧﮭم May Allāh be pleased with them رﺣﻣﮫ ﷲ May Allāh have mercy on him 7 English Punctuations Used for Arabic Arabic English Definition For .ء Used as a replacememnt for ' ء .'would be spelt Ambiyā أﻧﺒﻴﺎء ,example in order to elongate the ا Used in place of would be إﺳﻼم ,Ā/ā letter. For example ا .would be Hājar ﻫﺎﺟﺮ ,Islām in order to elongate و Used in place of would be أﺑﻮ ذر ,Ū/ū the letter. For example و would be Yūsuf ﻳﻮﺳﻒ ,Abū Dharr in order to elongate ي Used in place of would be اﻟﺤﺪﻳﺚ ,Ī/ī the letter. For example ي .would be Ibn-Kathīr اﺑﻦ ﻛﺜﻴﺮ ,Al-Hadīth Used whenever a word ends with a would be ﻗﺼﻲ ,ï/ ÿ Tashdeed. For example .would be spelt ‘Alï ﻋﻠﻲ ,spelt Qusaÿ would be ﻋﻤﺮ ,For example .ع Used for ‘ ع spelt ‘Amr. when it has a Sukūn. For ع Used for would be spelt ﺻﻌﺼﻌة ,example ’ ع has a Sukūn on it ع Sa’sa‘ah. The first .has a Fathah ع while the latter 8 Contents Contents Introduction .................................................................................................. 21 Definition of Seerah .................................................................................. 22 Importance of Studying Seerah ................................................................ 22 History of Islām ..................................................................................... 22 23 .......................................................................... ﷺ Love of Muhammad 27 ................................................... ﷺ To Follow the Way of Muhammad Understanding Qurān ........................................................................... 27 Life Illustrates the Methodological Steps of the Islāmic ﷺ His Movement ............................................................................................ 28 Studying Seerah is ‘Ibādah ................................................................... 29 Developing a Muslim Identity .............................................................. 29 is a Testimony of his Prophethood ............ 31 ﷺ The Life of Muhammad We are Studying the Life of the Greatest ............................................. 31 Sources Used for this Seerah .................................................................... 32 The Science of Seerah and the Science of Hadīth ................................ 33 Reason for Choosing Ibn Kathīr as Primary Source .............................