Mukhtasar Sirat al-Rasul صلى الله عليه وسلم liMuhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab
- Author died
- 1206 AH
- Editions
- Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da'wah and Guidance - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Mukhtasar Sirat al-Rasul (Abridgment of the Messenger's Biography) is a historical treatise by the Arabian theologian Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1115–1206 AH / 1703–1792 CE) summarizing the prophetic biography and the early history of the Muslim community.
Background and Scope
The work is primarily an abridgment of the classical al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah compiled by the historian Ibn Hisham (Abu Muhammad Abd al-Malik ibn Hisham al-Ma'afiri). Despite its title, the treatise is not confined to the biographical narrative of the Prophet Muhammad; rather, it broadens its scope to encompass successive eras of early Islamic history.
Contents and Structure
The book begins with an introductory discussion concerning the stories of earlier and later peoples, accompanied by an examination of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance (jahiliyyah) in terms of its prevailing beliefs and conduct. Through this, the author clarifies the reality of monotheism (tawhid) with which the Prophet was sent.
Following this prelude, the text covers:
- The lineage and background of the Prophet Muhammad, alongside various related and contextual historical matters.
- A chronological presentation of the Prophet's military expeditions and campaigns (ghazawat).
- The history of the Rightly Guided Caliphate.
- Selected years from the Umayyad Caliphate.
- A concise survey of the Abbasid Caliphate, extending up through the reign of al-Ma'mun.
The author omits several aspects commonly found in comprehensive biographical works; the book does not address the Prophet's wives, nor does it detail his personal domestic life, such as his clothing, food, sleep, or family affairs.
Methodology and Style
The work generally follows a chronological arrangement in recounting historical events. Rather than recording continuous chains of transmission (isnad), the author narrates historical accounts without transmission chains (munqati'). Poetic verses from Ibn Hisham's original compilation are heavily pruned, leaving only a small amount of poetry.
The text is marked by an emphasis on creedal issues (aqidah) and monotheism, incorporating analytical deductions (istinbatat) and digressions into various scholarly questions.
Publication
The work was edited and published in Riyadh by Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University as part of the project to collect and publish the author's complete works, and it was later republished by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da'wah and Guidance in 1418 AH.
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