Two New Sirah Books in English

There are two new books of sirah (Prophetic biography) which every English-speaking Muslim should be aware of. Actually, one of them—Our Master Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (ASWS)—has just been published, while the other—A Portrait of the Prophet: As Seen by His Contemporaries—is will be released shortly, insha'llah.

The first title, Our Master Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (ASWS): His Sublime Character & Exalted Attributes, is a translation of a work by Imam ‘Abdallah Sirajuddin al-Husayni of Aleppo, Syria. The book, which is described as "incredible expression of Prophetic love," is translated by Khalid Williams, contains an introduction by the great Shaykh Muhammad b. Yahya al-Ninowy, and is the second publication by Sunni Publications (in cooperation with Marifah.net). The author of the Arabic original, Imam ‘Abdallah Sirajuddin al-Husayni, was "not only a Hafiz, a leading scholar of Hadith and exegete of the Qur’an, but also a true Saint, referred to by scholars as ‘The Pole of Prophetic Love of our Times’. His book is the product of true scholarship and virtue." Preview chapters of this heartfelt work of Islamic piety can be found here and here.

The second book, A Portrait of the Prophet: As Seen by His Contemporaries, is a translation of Imam Muhammad ibn 'Isa at-Tirmidhi's famous Ash-Shama’ilal-Muhammadiyya—and, yes, this is the same Imam at-Tirmidhi (died 209 AH) who compiled the canonical hadith collection known as Sunan al-Tirmidhi. The present work, usually known simply as Ash-Shama'il, is published by Fons Vitae, translated by Muhtar Holland, contains a forward by Hamza Yusuf, an introduction by Kenneth Honerkamp and calligraphy by Mohamed Zakariya...so need we say more? No doubt, a quality translation of Ash-Shama'il is long overdue since it contains "a famous and a most indispensable collection of authentic traditions (ahadith), listing the main texts from which to glean the beautiful attributes, both moral and physical, of the Holy Prophet"—salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam. This is a book that every English-speaking Muslim should have in their home library, since it's an indispensable tool for not only learning more about the Prophet—salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam, but instilling love for him as well.

Deen on...