Sources of Islamic History

There are many books which provide us with Islamic history. Information on the lives and incidents of the Companions (ra) from the sermons of Hazrat-Khalifatul Masih V (aba) has been taken from various sources, some of which are listed below:

The Holy Qur’an

Revealed by Allah the Almighty to the Holy Prophet (sa) through the Angel Jibra’il (as) in a span of 23 years.

Sahih al-Bukhari

Compiled by Imam Muhammad bin Isma’il Bukhari (rh), Sahih al-Bukhari is the most authentic book of Hadith. It is part of the Sihah-Sittah (the 6 Authentic books of Hadith).

Sahih Muslim

Compiled by Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (rh), Sahih Muslim is the second most authentic book of Hadith. It is part of the Sihah-Sittah (the 6 Authentic books of Hadith).

Sunan al-Tirmidhi

Compiled by Imam Abu ‘Isa Muhammad at-Tirmidhi (rh), Sunan al-Tirmidhi is considered to be one of the most authentic books of Hadith. It is part of the Sihah-Sittah (the 6 Authentic books of Hadith).

Sunan Abi Dawud

Compiled by Imam Abi Dawud Sulayman ibn al-Ash’ath as-Sijistani (rh), Sunan Abi Dawud is considered to be one of the most authentic books of Hadith. It is part of the Sihah-Sittah (the 6 Authentic books of Hadith).

Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal

Compiled by Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (rh), Sunan Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal is considered a great compilation of Ahadith and consists of over 27,000 Ahadith.

Kanzul Ummal

Kanzul Ummal is an arrangement of Imam Jalaluddin as-Suyyuti’s (rh) work, carried out by Imam Ali ibn Abd-al-Malik Hindi (rh). It contains roughly 46,000 Ahadith.

Seerat Khatamun Nabiyyin

A comprehensive book on the life & character of the Seal of the Prophets (sa), this work consists of 3 Volumes. It was written by Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad M.A (ra), the son of the Promised Messiah (as).

Seerat ibn Hisham

Written by Abu Muhammad ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Hisham, this is one of the earliest and most reliable works on Islamic history. It is mainly an edited recension of Seerat Ibn Ishaq.

Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad

A biography of the Prophet Muhammad (sa), his Companions (ra) and the following generatin known as the Tab’ieen. This work was written by Abū ‘Abd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Sa‘d ibn Manī‘ al-Baṣrī al-Hāshimī.

Umdatul Qari

Umdatul Qari is a Sharh (exegesis) on Sahih al-Bukhari, written by Badr ad-Din al-Ayni.

Majma’ al-Zawaid

A secondary hadith collection which includes Ahadith from Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Musnad of Abu Bakr al-Bazzar and others. This was compiled by Ali ibn Abu Bakr al-Haythami.

Al-Isabah Fi Tamyeez Al Sahabah

A Hadith collection compiled by Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani.

Usdul Ghabah

A biography of the Holy Prophet (sa) and thousands of his Companions (ra). Written by Ali ibn al-Athir.

Al Raud-ul-Anf

A commentary on the Seerat Ibn Hisham, this book contains 7 volumes and was written by Sidi Abu al-Qasim Abd al-Rahman b. Abd Allah al-Suhayli.

Sharh Zurqani

A Sharh (exegesis) on the Muwatta of Imam Malik. This is the work of Imam Muhammad al-Zurqani.

Al-Istiab

This is a compilation of the Companions (ra) of the Holy Prophet (sa), written by Yusuf ibn Abdallah ibn Mohammed ibn Abd al-Barr.

Siar Al-Sahaba

A biography of the Companions (ra) of the Holy Prophet (sa) written by Maulana Moeen ud-Deen Nadvi.

Mujam-ul-Buldan

A work of biography, history, literature and geography, written by Yāqūt Shihāb al-Dīn ibn-'Abdullāh al-Rūmī al-Hamawī .

Tarikh Al-Khamis

A history collection on the history of Islam written by Husayn ibn Muhammad Diyarbakri.

Al Jami’ Li Sha’bil Iman

A book of Hadith consisting of over 11,000 Ahadith, compiled by Abū Bakr Aḥmad ibn Ḥusayn Ibn 'Alī ibn Mūsa al-Khosrojerdi al-Bayhaqi.