Husul al-Mamul bi Sharh Mukhtasar al-Fusul fi Sirat al-Rasul
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- Madinah Literary Club
Husul al-Mamul bi Sharh Mukhtasar al-Fusul fi Sirat al-Rasul (Attaining the Hoped-For through the Explanation of the Abridgment of al-Fusul on the Prophet's Biography) is a contemporary commentary by Hani Faqih, Professor of Hadith and its Sciences at the Islamic University of Madinah, on his own abridgment of the biographical work al-Fusul fi Sirat al-Rasul by the historian and traditionist Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 CE) .
Background and Purpose
Ibn Kathir's al-Fusul fi Sirat al-Rasul is regarded as one of the finest concise treatments of the prophetic biography, distinguished by its investigation of narrative authenticity and its clear style . Faqih noted, however, that the original text included certain digressions, such as detailed genealogical discussions, the citation of poetry, internal legal disputes within the Shafi'i school, and lengthy concluding sections on prophetic miracles (mu'jizat), characteristics (shama'il), and exclusive distinctions (khasa'is) .
To make the work more accessible to modern readers and avoid breaking the narrative sequence of core historical events, Faqih prepared an abridgment before explaining it . He retained the historical text almost entirely while excising the concluding sections on miracles and characteristics, arguing that they constitute supplementary themes better suited to independent works . He preserved Ibn Kathir's exact wording without textual alteration and supplied thematic chapter and section headings, which the original work lacked .
Method and Sources
In his commentary, Faqih presents the base text in bold font between parentheses, followed by elucidation and critical commentary . His methodology relies on:
- Documenting biographical reports from primary sources and assessing the authenticity of each event using standard Hadith criticism .
- Clarifying difficult expressions and rectifying positions where he found Ibn Kathir's assertions to be inaccurate .
- Deriving legal rulings, legislative ethics, and educational benefits from the historical incidents .
- Refuting critical arguments and interpretations raised by Western Orientalists regarding specific events of the prophetic biography .
Faqih bases his analysis on foundational authorities of prophetic biography and Hadith criticism, primarily drawing upon Ibn Ishaq—principally accessed via Sirat Ibn Hisham, al-Tabari's history, and al-Bayhaqi's Dala'il al-Nubuwwa—as well as the critical assessments of al-Dhahabi and Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani .
Answer updated