پاکستان میں منتخب کتبِ سیرت: تعارف، اسلوب، خصوصیات و محاسن اور تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Selected Sīrah Books in Pakistan: Introduction, Style, Features, and Analytical Study

Abstract

The study of the Sīrah (biography) of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ is not only a religious obligation for Muslims but also a source of profound influence in fields such as history, sociology, law, and ethics. The life of the Prophet ﷺ offers a comprehensive code of conduct, encompassing beliefs, worship, social interactions, transactions, and moral values. Throughout Islamic history, scholars have continuously contributed to the genre of Sīrah, responding to the intellectual and cultural needs of their time. This research focuses on a selection of prominent Sīrah works authored in Pakistan, representing diverse methodologies and styles. Classical narratives such as Raḥmat al-ʿĀlamīn by Qāḍī Sulaymān Manṣūrpūrī, Sīrat al-Nabī by Shiblī Nuʿmānī and Sayyid Sulaymān Nadwī, and al-Nabī al-Khātam by Dr. Ḥamīdullāh, offer scholarly and analytical insight into the Prophet’s life. On the other hand, al-Raḥīq al-Makhtūm by Ṣafī al-Raḥmān Mubārakpūrī and Muḥsin-e-Insāniyyat by Dr. Naʿīm Ṣiddīqī present an accessible yet comprehensive narrative for general readers. Additionally, Ḍiyāʾ al-Nabī by Pīr Karam Shāh al-Azharī showcases a literary and spiritual style, while Muḥāḍarāt-e-Sīrat by Dr. Maḥmūd Aḥmad Ghāzī reflects a legal-academic discourse. The paper analyzes the authors’ backgrounds, writing styles, research depth, and literary merits of these works. By exploring both traditional and contemporary approaches to Sīrah writing in Pakistan, this study highlights the richness and evolution of Prophetic biography literature, aiming to provide scholars with a deeper understanding of this vital intellectual tradition.