Religion:Nashr al-Tib fi Zikr al-Nabi al-Habib

Short description: Book by Ashraf Ali Thanwi

Nashr al-Tib fi Zikr al-Nabi al-Habib

Urdu cover
Author	Ashraf Ali Thanwi
Original title	نشر الطيب فى ذكر النبى الحبيب ﷺ
Country	British India
Language	Urdu
Subject	Prophetic biography
Genre	Classic
Publication date	1912
Published in English	2015
Media type	Print
ISBN	ISBN:9780956896568 English
OCLC	974511045
Dewey Decimal	297.63 B

Nashr al-Tib fi Zikr al-Nabi al-Habib (Urdu: نشر الطيب فى ذكر النبى الحبيب ﷺ‎) is a biography of Prophet Muhammad written by Ashraf Ali Thanwi during 1911–1912, amidst a pandemic outbreak in India. The book consists of 41 chapters and presents Prophet Muhammad as a boon for the entire universe. It explores various aspects of his life, teachings, and character, highlighting his impact on humanity.

Content

Contents of this book:

• Chapter 1: This chapter presents irrefutable Ahadith (sayings of the Prophet) that prove the prominence of Muhammad's light.
• Chapter 2: Thanawi discusses the superiority of the Prophet, highlighting his inherent talents and greatness through ten Ahadith and five verses from the Qur'an.
• Chapter 3: The author explores the lineage of the Last Prophet, providing support from Ahadith.
• Chapter 4: This chapter mentions narrations that indicate the presence of the light of the Last Messenger in the lives of his family's predecessors.
• Chapter 5: The author presents three incidents that demonstrate the extraordinary nature of the Last Messenger's birth.
• Chapter 6–7: Seven traditions are mentioned that describe miraculous events surrounding the time of the Prophet's birth, which were later fulfilled.
• Chapter 8: Prophet Muhammad's childhood and events that illustrate his greatness are presented.
• Chapter 9: The names of the foster mothers who breastfed or suckled the Prophet are mentioned, along with praise for their character.
• Chapter 10: Events that occurred before the Prophet's ordainment as a Prophet are discussed.
• Chapter 11: This chapter focuses on the ministry of the Last Prophet, including revelations, their effects, opposition, jealousy, and arrogance faced by the Prophet.
• Chapter 12: The author discusses the Mi'raj (Ascension to the Heavens).
• Chapter 13: Conditions under which the Last Prophet instructed his followers to leave their homes and migrate to Abyssinia are described.
• Chapter 14: The author highlights the allegiance sworn to the Last Prophet after he declared his ministry and mentions the misbehavior of enemies and their subsequent punishment.
• Chapter 15: The migration of the Last Prophet to Madinah is described.
• Chapter 16: Three miracles occurring after the Last Prophet's arrival in Madinah are discussed.
• Chapter 17: The ten years of the Last Prophet's life in Madinah are presented chronologically, including battles, miracles, and events according to the Hijra calendar.
• Chapter 18: Delegations that came to meet the Last Prophet are mentioned.
• Chapter 19: The author lists the companions chosen by the Last Prophet for special duties.
• Chapter 20: The letters written by the Last Prophet to different rulers urging them to accept Islam are discussed.
• Chapter 21: The moral and spiritual character of the Last Messenger is explored, referencing the book "Shivm al-Habib" by Maulana Mufti Ilahi Bakhsh Kändhlawi.
• Chapter 22: Several miracles associated with the Last Prophet are mentioned.
• Chapter 23: The different names of the Last Messenger are discussed and explained.
• Chapter 24: Exemplary features of the Last Prophet that distinguish him from other Prophets are highlighted.
• Chapter 25: Things utilized by the Last Messenger are mentioned.
• Chapter 26: The wives, children, relatives, slaves, and guards of the Last Prophet are discussed.
• Chapter 27: The demise of the Last Prophet is mentioned.
• Chapter 28: The glory of the Last Messenger's stay in Barzakh (purgatory) is described.
• Chapter 29: Ten traditions about the glory of the Last Messenger that will manifest on the Day of Judgment are presented.
• Chapter 30: This chapter mentions seven glories of the Last Messenger that will be evident in Paradise. It highlights the special status and rewards bestowed upon him in the afterlife.
• Chapter 31: Five traditions are presented in this chapter to establish that the Last Messenger is the greatest among all mankind. These traditions emphasize his superiority and unique position among the people.
• Chapter 32: The author discusses ten verses from the Qur'an that may cause confusion among people and provides explanations to clarify their meanings.
• Chapter 33: This chapter explores the eternal ministry of the Last Prophet. It emphasizes that his teachings and influence continue to exist and impact people even after his physical departure.
• Chapter 34: Seven traditions are mentioned that depict the love the Last Messenger had for his followers. These traditions showcase his compassion, care, and concern for his companions and followers.
• Chapter 35: The rights of the Last Prophet on his followers are discussed in this chapter. It highlights the responsibilities and obligations of the believers towards the Prophet.
• Chapter 36: The chapter presents the translation and explanation of five verses from the Qur'an that emphasize the importance of obeying and respecting the Last Messenger. It provides guidance on how followers should conduct themselves in relation to him.
• Chapter 37: The author discusses how the followers should extol the Last Messenger through the recitation of Durud (invoking blessings upon him). The benefits and significance of reciting Durud are explained.
• Chapter 38: This chapter aims to establish the permissibility and correctness of seeking the intercession of the Last Messenger in prayers. It explores the concept of intercession and the role of the Prophet in mediating between God and His creation.
• Chapter 39: The author seeks to prove that the remembrance of the Last Prophet should be constant and repeated. The chapter emphasizes the importance of keeping the Prophet's memory alive and honoring his teachings.
• Chapter 40: The visionary appearances of the Last Prophet are mentioned in this chapter. It discusses instances where the Prophet was seen in dreams or visions, and the significance of such encounters.

Sources

In regards to the sources used in the book, the author himself mentions that while writing Nashr al-Tib fi Zikr al-Nabi al-Habib, he referred to works such as Kutub al-Sitta and Ash-Shama'il al-Muhammadiyya. Additionally, the author drew upon other significant texts like Zad al-Ma'ad, Al-Muwahib al-Ladunniyyah, Sirat books including Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah. Furthermore, the author extensively utilized an Arabic magazine called Shamim al-Habib to the extent that Nashr al-Tib could be considered a translation of its content.

Translation

In December 1980, the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh published the first Bengali translation of the book titled "Je Fuler Kusbote Sara Jahan Matwara." The translation was done by Muhammad Aminul Islam of Lalbagh Shahi Mosque. The English translator of the book is Muhammad Sajjad Yunus, and it is titled "Remembering The Beloved Prophet (S)."

Reception

One of its features, as highlighted by Muhammad Mian Siddique, is its ability to encompass all aspects of Prophet Muhammad's biography while maintaining brevity. He praised this book for its avoidance of repetition, verbosity, and complex language, as it employs a simple and smooth writing style. Additionally, he appreciates how, after each event and topic, moral conclusions are drawn, enhancing the book's practical and insightful nature. Another contribution of this book, as noted by Abul Khair Kashfaqi, is its inclusion of far-reaching hadiths that shed light on the Prophet's virtues, social etiquette, and daily routines.

References

• Khan, Mohammad Talib (2018). Contribution of Aligarh Muslim University to Seerah Literature (PhD) (in اردو). India: Department of Sunni Theology, Aligarh Muslim University. pp. 457–459. hdl:10603/364770. Archived from the original on 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

External links

• Nashr al-Tib fi Zikr al-Nabi al-Habib at Internet Archive