Nur al-Yaqin fi Sirat Sayyid al-Mursalin
- Author died
- 1345 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Fayḥā’
Nur al-Yaqin fi Sirat Sayyid al-Mursalin (The Light of Certainty in the Biography of the Master of the Messengers) is a work on the prophetic biography (sirah) authored by the Egyptian scholar and historian Muhammad al-Khudari (1289–1345 AH / 1872–1927 CE). Written with an accessible, modern educational approach, it became one of the most widely taught and circulated textbooks on the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ across the Islamic world.
Background and Purpose
The author, Muhammad ibn Afifi al-Bajuri (known as Shaykh al-Khudari), was a graduate of Dar al-Ulum who served in judicial, academic, and inspection posts in Egypt and Sudan. In the preface to the work, al-Khudari states that from his early youth he had a deep attachment to studying the histories of earlier generations, viewing historical accounts as a principal instrument for cultivating the mind. He regarded the biography of the Prophet ﷺ—particularly his patience in the face of adversity and his perseverance—as the greatest source of moral and practical guidance for Muslims, offering lessons for rulers on uniting disparate hearts, for military leaders on organization and strategic resolve, and for the broader community on mutual solidarity.
Al-Khudari observed that many Muslims neglected the study of the Prophet's life because earlier biographical works were excessively voluminous and difficult for general readers to navigate. He therefore composed the book as a structured, concise narrative designed to make the essential historical record straightforward and easily digestible.
Structure and Content
The book presents a chronological survey of the life and mission of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
- Pre-Prophetic Life: It begins with the Prophet's ancestry tracing back through Adnan to Ismail, followed by the marriage of his parents, Abdullah and Aminah. For the date of the Prophet's birth, al-Khudari cites the astronomical calculations of Mahmud Pasha al-Falaki, dating it to the morning of Monday, 9 Rabi' al-Awwal (corresponding to 20 April 571 CE) in the Year of the Elephant. It details his nursing among the Banu Sa'd by Halimah al-Sa'diyyah, the opening of his chest, the deaths of his mother and grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, the guardianship of his uncle Abu Talib, his journeys to al-Sham, the Sacrilegious War (Harb al-Fijar), the Alliance of the Virtuous (Hilf al-Fudul), his marriage to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, and his role in the rebuilding of the Ka'bah.
- The Meccan Period: The narrative details the descent of revelation in the cave of Hira, the initial private preaching followed by the public proclamation, the persecution endured by early converts, the conversions of Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Umar ibn al-Khattab, the two migrations to Abyssinia, the social and economic boycott by Quraysh, the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascent (al-Isra wa-l-Mi'raj), the presentation of Islam to visiting Arab tribes, and the two Pledges of al-Aqabah.
- The Medinan Period and Passing: It traces the Hijrah to Medina, the construction of the mosques at Quba and Medina, major military engagements—including the battles of Badr, Uhud, and the Trench (al-Khandaq)—the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyyah, letters to foreign rulers, the Conquest of Mecca, the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada'), and concludes with the Prophet's final illness, passing, and burial in the apartment of Aisha.
Reception and Editions
Nur al-Yaqin met with widespread reception and was officially adopted into the curriculum of religious institutes throughout most parts of the Muslim world. The book went through numerous reprintings across publishing centers such as Cairo and Mecca. Subsequent editions have featured editorial supplements, including biographical entries for cited historical figures, vocalization of names, verification and sourcing of prophetic traditions (takhrij), and definitions of uncommon vocabulary.
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