Mufti Ismail Moosa (may Allāh Ta’ālā preserve him)
The first step in inculcating the love of the Prophet (ṣallAllāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is to learn about him. When a person studies the biography of the Prophet (ṣallAllāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), the burning love of the Prophet (ṣallAllāḥu ‘alayhi wa sallam) gets ignited in his heart. He then feels a strong attachment with his beloved and willingly and lovingly aspires to become just like the Prophet (ṣallAllāḥu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
Many Muslims desire to read books on the life of the Prophet (ṣallAllāḥu ‘alayhi wa sallam), but they are unsure which are reliable or even good books to read.
Since very minimal Sīrah is taught in the ‘Ālim curriculum, many ‘Ulamā are also unacquainted with good books on this subject.
This list has been prepared to guide the lover of the Prophet (ṣallAllāḥu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to the books that he should read. Every Muslim should, in fact, read a few books from this list.
For Scholars
كتب في السيرة النبوية لا بد لكل عالم أن يقرأها
- السيرة النبوية (سيرة ابن هشام)
- سبل الهدى والرشاد في سيرة خير العباد للصالحي
- عيون الأثر في فنون المغازي والشمائل والسير لابن سيد الناس واختصاره: بشرى اللبيب بسيرة النبي الحبيب لابي البركات الأزهري
- زاد المعاد في هدي خير العباد لابن القيم
- الفصول في اختصار سيرة الرسول / السيرة النبوية للحافظ ابن كثير
- شرح الزرقاني على المواهب اللدنية
- الزهر الباسم في سير أبي القاسم لمغلطاي
- المختصر الصغير في سيرة البشير النذير لابن جماعة
- البشرى بالنسخة المسندة من الخصائص الكبرى
- العجالة السنية على ألفية السيرة النبوية للعراقي
- نسيم الرياض في شرح الشفا للخفاجي
- إمتاع الأسماع بما للنبي من الأحوال والأموال والحفدة والمتاع
For The Laymen
Every Muslim should read a few of these books in order to enhance his knowledge and increase his love for the Prophet (ṣallAllāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam):
- Muḥammad Messenger of Allāh: Ash-Shifā of Qāḍī ‘Iyāḍ
- The light of the Eyes by Ibn Sayyid an-Nās
- The Life of the Prophet Muḥammad by Ḥāfiḍ Ibn Kathīr
- Provisions for the Hereafter by Ḥāfiḍ Ibn al-Qayyim
- Sīrat al-Muṣṭafāby Mawlānā Idris Kāndlawi
- The Sealed Nectar by Shaykh Safi ar-Raḥmān al-Mubārakpūrī
- Prophet of Mercy by Mawlānā Abūl Ḥasan ‘Ali an-Nadwi
- The Jurisprudence of the Prophetic Biography by Shaykh Sa‘īd Ramadān al-Būṭi
- Muḥammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings
- Noble Life Of The Prophet by Ali Muḥammad As-Sallābī
- Sīrat-un-Nabī by Mawlānā Shiblī an-Numāni
- Sīrat-un-Nabī by Mawlānā Yāqūb Patel
Also read: Shamāil at-Tirmīdhi with the commentary of Mawlānā Zakariyyā Kāndlawi.
May Allāh Ta’ālā bless us with the love of the Prophet (ṣallAllāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), grant us the honour of following his Sunnah, and endow us with his companionship in the hereafter.